Gilmour feeling the pressure

Ian Williams and Team GAC Pindar lead into the second qualifier round of Stena Match Cup Sweden

Peter Gilmour is in danger of becoming one of the big-name casualties of the Stena Match Cup Sweden as the intensity ramps up in Marstrand. After 17 flights the four-time match racing World Champion had scored only three wins but suffered six losses on the waters of Marstrand Fjord.

Even if Gilmour and his Yanmar Racing wins all three of his remaining matches his future in Stena Match Cup Sweden would still hang in the balance and his continuation to the Quarter Finals would be decided by a tie-break situation. With just 28 points separating Gilmour – currently second on the overall World Tour leaderboard – with tenth place an early exit from the competition could be seriously damaging to his campaign for a fifth world title.

Even before racing started today the pressure was on for Gilmour, with five back-to-back losses from yesterday’s Qualifying Session. A win over Keith Swinton's Black Swan Racing, one of yesterday’s form skippers, gave Gilmour’s team a much needed boost, followed up by a convincing win against New Zealand's Phil Robertson in the next flight thanks to some aggressive tactics.

But his fortunes turned in his race against Ian Williams and his Team GAC Pindar as the Portimao Portugal Match Cup winner came from behind on the second windward leg to snatch a narrow victory. Last year’s Stena Match Cup Sweden runner-up Jesper Radich then inflicted more misery onto Gilmour with a solid performance in the strengthening breeze.

A win over Swede Bjorn Hansen saved Gilmour from certain exit but now Gilmour must win all three of his remaining matches – including one against current Tour leader Francesco Bruni – to remain in contention. It is lining up to be a great fight, with Bruni also teetering around the danger zone with just four wins to his name.

In the meantime after 17 flights Ian Williams leads from Bjorn Hansen.

Results after the second Qualifying Session Flight 17:

Ian Williams (GBR) Team GAC Pindar 9-2
Bjorn Hansen (SWE) Mekonomen Sailing Team 8-2
Torvar Mirsky (AUS) The Wave Muscat 6-4
Damien Iehl (FRA) French Match Racing Team 6-4
Jesper Radich (DEN) Adrian Lee & Partners 5-3
Keith Swinton (AUS) Black Swan Racing 5-5
Francesco Bruni (ITA) Bruni Racing 4-6
Phil Robertson (NZL) Waka Racing 4-5
Johnie Berntsson (SWE) Berntsson Sailing Team 4-5
Alvaro Marinho (POR) Seth Sailing Team 4-6
Mathieu Richard (FRA) French Match Racing Team 4-6
Mattias Rahm (SWE) Stena Bulk Sailing Team 3-6
Peter Gilmour (AUS) YANMAR Racing 3-6
Rasmus Viltoft (DEN) Team Viltoft 2-7