Moderate shifty winds prevailed yesterday during the Semi Finals and Finals of the first World Match Racing Tour Round 2017 on the Swan River in Perth AUS. The reigning World Champion controlled the ambitious Western Australian competition. Phil Robertson NZL defeated Dave Gilmour AUS 3-1 in the Semis and the surprising Matt Jerwood AUS in the Final with smashing 3-0. In the Petite Final, Torvar Mirsky AUS had the upperhand on Gilmour AUS with 2-1.
The news with results.

The Quarter Finals were held in a freshening seabreeze yesterday, and the local teams dominated again and qualified for today's Semi Finals. Dave Gilmour AUS eliminated the favorite Taylor Canfield ISV with 3-1, Matt Jerwood AUS defeated Chris Steele NZL after a close fight with 3-2 and Torvar Mirsky AUS had the upperhand on Yann Guichard FRA. The only non-Australian advancing to the Semis was the Matchrace World Champion Phil Robertson NZL with a 3-1 win over Steve Thomas AUS. Racing will start on Saturday morning at 6h UTC and can be followed on livestream on this website.
The results and the daily news.

Yesterday, the Round of 16 were concluded and the local public could applaud the Quarter Final qualifications of David Gilmour AUS, Torvar Mirsky AUS, Matt Jerwood AUS and Steve Thomas AUS. Phil Robertson NZL and Chris Steele NZL complemented the strong downunder representation. From the Northern Hemisphere, only Taylor Canfield ISV and Yann Guichard FRA made the next round.
This morning, the Quarter Finals are underway, beginning with a surprise as David Gilmore AUS eliminated Taylor Canfield ISV with 3-1.Right now, the second duel between Phil Robertson NZL and Steve Thomas AUS sees the Kiwi in the lead with 2-1.
The results and the daily news.

5 of the 8 Super-16 finals have been completed up to now. The biggest surprise was the 0-3 defeat of the six-times World Champion Ian Wiliams GBR against Matt Jerwood AUS. The other clear 3-0 winners were Taylor Canfield ISV (vs Pieter Jan Postma NED) and Yann Guichard FRA (3-0 vs Sam Gilmour AUS). Chris Steele NZL had a hard fight - 3 to 2 - with Jonas Warrer DEN. The Aussie duel between David Gilmour AUS and Evan Walker AUS went in favor of Gilmour 3-1.
The daily news and the results. The last three round-of-16 finals can be followed over livestream this morning UTC.

Racing is underway in Perth this morning, and two heats of the Round of 16 are already decided. Taylor Canfield ISV defeated Pieter-Jan Postma NED 3-0, Chris Steele NZL turned 2-0 backlog into a 3-2 victory against Jonas Warrer DEN. The Repechage of the backmarkers of each group was completed before with Postma NED eliminating Sally Barkow USA and George Anyon NZL.
The competition can be followed over a live feed. Beginning at 6 a.m. UTC, the livestream window on this website will be open. The fresh breeze reigning promises spectacular racing and capsizes are probably not excluded.

The first round of the World Match Racing Tour 2017 began yesterday on the Swan River in Perth AUS. The 18 teams, split in three groups of 6, sailed 4 qualification fleet races each.
The interim's leaders are Chris Steele NZL and Taylor Canfield ISV with 3 race wins as well as Yann Guichard FRA just one point ahead of Ian Williams and Torvar Mirsky AUS. The all-female 'Magenta' team of Sally Barkow USA is on the 4th place of their group.
The news with the ranking lists and the video of the day.
Racing today is already underway and can be followed on live feed.

The frist round of the World Match Racing Tour 2017 began in Perth AUS this morning. Contrary to last year, the M32 catamarans sail on the Swan River in the middle of the city, with the best matchracers of the past years and Worldchampions, Phil Robertson NZL, Ian Williams GBR and Taylor Canfield ISV racing. Interesting will be to follow the Finn Olympic Medalist Pieter-Jan Postma NED in his first appearance on the WMRT. North America is represented by Taylor Canfield ISV and Sally Barkow USA.
A live ticker informs currently on the matches. Here the official preview .