Team NZ's Dean Barker wins ACI Ronhill Cup

But Holmberg wins series

There were two champions in the final day of racing at a windless ACI Ronhill Cup match at Split on the Croatian coast today. Team New Zealand's Dean Barker defended his title by beating Prada Challenge's Gavin Brady two wins to one loss in the championship final. But Magnus Holmberg and Team Stora Enso, by finishing third at the event, clinched overall victory in the Swedish Match Tour Championship with two events still remaining.
The final was reminiscent of last year's America's Cup, with Barker lining up his Team New Zealand crew against the all too familiar foes from the Prada Challenge, this time led by Gavin Brady.

"The conditions today were very difficult. Gavin has been sailing very well and we knew the final was going to be very close and I think in the end we just sailed a little bit better than he did," said Barker. "It was a huge thrill to win today. It's great to win a regatta where there's such strong support from sponsors and the public."

The 15 points Holmberg picked up in Split eliminated his closest competitor and defending Swedish Match Tour champion Bertrand Pace also of Team New Zealand. Pace will not be contesting the next event on the Tour, the Match Race Lake Constance presented by Volvo, due to his America's Cup obligations and will not be able to close the point gap even with a victory at the Swedish Match Tour's final event, the Swedish Match Cup.

"A lot of years of hard work paid off today. It's a terrific feeling," said Holmberg about his Swedish Match Tour Championship. "We have been very consistent in our performance on the Tour. Our worst result in any event was seventh at last year's Colorcraft Gold Cup, and I think that has been the biggest difference for us."

Holmberg and Team StoraEnso don’t plan on slowing down and look forward to some unfinished business in the next month. "We still haven't won the Swedish Match Cup which is in our hometown and we look forward to winning that event as the icing on the cake."

Due to a lack of wind the organisers decided to shorten the semi-final round to a first-to-two-wins showdown. Brady and Barker went through with two wins to zero victories over Pace and Holmberg.

The ACI Ronhill Cup was the sixth of eight events in the Swedish Match Grand Sailing Tour. It carries over US$400,000 in individual event prize money, as well as awarding US$200,000 to the top eight sailors on the Tour. As winner, Holmberg stands to net US$60,000 as a result of his victory.

Final Standings
1. Dean Barker (Team New Zealand)
2. Gavin Brady (Prada Challenge)
3. Magnus Holmberg (Team Stora Enso)
4. Bertrand Pace (Team New Zealand)
5. Jes Gram-Hansen (DEN)
6. Rod Davis (Prada Challenge)
7. Andy Green (GBR Challenge)
8. Jesper Radich (DEN)

Final Results
Dean Barker (Team New Zealand) def. Gavin Brady (Prada
Challenge)
Gavin Brady def. Dean Barker
Dean Barker def. Gavin Brady

Petit Final Results
Magnus Holmberg (Team StoraEnso) def. Bertrand Pace
(Team New Zealand)
Bertrand Pace def. Magnus Holmberg
Magnus Holmberg def. Bertrand Pace

Semi-final Results
Flight 1
Gavin Brady (Prada Challenge) def. Bertrand Pace (Team
New Zealand)
Dean Barker (Team New Zealand) def. Magnus Holmberg
(Team StoraEnso)

Flight 2
Gavin Brady def. Bertrand Pace
Dean Barker def. Magnus Holmberg