Cherry Popped

It’s been a case of “All change” in the Troia Portugal Match Cup, just like it was in the Marseille event. Once again, veteran match racer, Peter Gilmour, started off looking unbeatable and ended up getting soundly beaten. On the other hand Mirsky Racing Team was certainly not on fire in the early stages and barely qualified for the quarter finals with a 6-6 win-loss record in the Round Robins. That all changed on Saturday, when they started a winning streak and took all but one match in the quarter final, semi-final, and final rounds to take the trophy and €10k. It was the first ever win for the team and an exuberant Mirsky summed it all up “It’s been six years in the making, but we’re finally here. So many times we’ve been so close, but just unable to get through, and today everything just came together for us. I’m still a bit stunned!” 

Mirsky took his fellow antipodean Adam Minoprio and his Emirates Team New Zealand/BlackMatch team in just two matches of the first to two point final, displaying a sailing style that was smoother than Miniprio’s, but the latter’s runner up finish earned him enough points to maintain a healthy 12 point lead in the overall Championship. Pic from Roberto Wander – who must be a candidate for a mention in the favourite photographers thread – and more here.