Monsoon Cup a month away

One point separates Ben Ainslie and Peter Holmberg in 2005-6 Swedish Match Tour

A milestone anniversary will help commemorate a burgeoning event and close out the 2005 calendar year for the Swedish Match Tour.

The Tour will celebrate its 50th event at the inaugural Monsoon Cup (29 Nov-4 Dec) in Kuala Terengganu, Malaysia. One of three new events on the Tour schedule the event has a MYR400,000 (approximately £61,000) prize purse.

After three events the current Swedish Match Tour season is closer than ever before. Ben Ainslie (GBR) of Emirates Team New Zealand leads the standings with 30 points, 1 point ahead of past Tour champion Peter Holmberg (ISV) of Alinghi. The top eight are separated by 10 points.

Swedish Match Tour Standings (after three of nine stages)
1. Ben Ainslie (GBR) Emirates Team New Zealand, 30 points
2. Peter Holmberg (ISV) Alinghi, 29 points
3. Ed Baird (USA) Alinghi, 25 points
T. Staffan Lindberg (FIN), 25 points
T. Jesper Bank (DEN) United Internet Team Germany, 25 points
6. Peter Gilmour (AUS) PST, 23 points
7. Gavin Brady (NZL) BMW Oracle Racing, 20 points
T. Mark Mendelblatt (USA), 20 points

Swedish Match Tour partners include Swedish Match, BMW and the Match Race Association. Swedish Match Tour Official Sponsors include Musto, Sebago and Travel Places.