The World Match Racing Tour is the world’s leading annual professional sailing series featuring America’s Cup sailors and teams that culminates in a season ending World Championship.  It is sanctioned by the International Sailing Federation (ISAF) as a “Major Event”, alongside the America’s Cup and Volvo Ocean Race.

Match Racing involves two identical boats racing each other round a short course. One boat against one boat, competitors rely on sharp tactics, good boat handling and in-depth rules knowledge to defeat their opposites. The leader uses blocking tactics to hold the other boat back while a trailing boat must use clever racing strategy to try and pass the leader.  Racing is held close to shore for the public and a unique hospitality experience.

The 2009 World Match Racing Tour will begin on March 10 in Marseille, France and will see a total of 10 events contested in five continents.

Skippers earn points towards the World Championship at each stage. A total of 100 points are awarded to the top eight finishers: 25 points for first, 20 for second, 15 for third, 12 for fourth, 10 for fifth, 8 for sixth, 6 for seventh and 4 for eighth. Skippers count their best five scores, regardless of the number of stages they’ve raced.

The Final, the Monsoon Cup, will once again be held in Kuala Terengganu, Malaysia, where Ian Williams, Bahrain Team Pindar will be looking to make it a hat trick of world titles.

Among those teams to compete in the World Match Racing Tour are America’s Cup professional skippers & teams including: Alinghi’s Ed Baird & Peter Gilmour; BMW Oracle Racing’s Russell Coutts & James Spithill; Team Origin, Ben Ainslie; Team Shosholoza’s Paolo Cian, as well as top-ranked international skippers from around the world including ISAF Match Racing World Champion Ian Williams representing Bahrain Team Pindar.

2009 Tour Schedule

March 10 - 15, 2009 Marseille International Match Race, Marseille, France

May 27 - 31, 2009 Match Race Germany Langenargen,

June 2 - 7, 2009 Korea Match Cup Gyeonggi, Korea

June 16 - 21, 2009 Portugal Match Cup Troia, Portugal

June 29 - July 5, 2009 Match Cup Sweden Marstrand,

September 1 - 6, 2009, St Moritz Match Race St Moritz,Switzerland

September 9 - 13, 2009 Danish Open Denmark

September 22 - 27, 2009 Brasil Sailing Cup Brazil

October 5 - 11, 2009 King Edward VII Gold Cup Hamilton, Bermuda

December 1 - 6, 2009 Monsoon Cup K.Teregganu, Malaysia