5:16 AM Thu 3 Dec 2009 GMT
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'Phil Robertson gets the better of Torvar Mirsky during their pre-start on day 2 of the Monsoon Cup 2009. Kuala Terengganu, Malaysia. 3 December 2009. Photo: Gareth Cooke/Subzero Images'
Monsoon Cup ©
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Monsoon Cup 2009 Day 2 and after the monsoon drama of the first day, the toughest racing day so far in the history of the regatta, this morning the competitors had time to look at the leader board.
At the end of the round robin series, four skippers will exit the regatta leaving the top eight to contest the quarter-finals.
Ian Williams and Team Pindar have dominated the World Tour for the last two years winning both the 2007 and 2008 World Match Racing Championships but right now Williams could find himself in nightmare territory.
After the first day Williams was 1-3, having recorded losses to Damien Iehl (French Team) Peter Gilmour (YANMAR Racing Team) and Phil Robertson (WAKA Racing), while defeating Torvar Mirsky (Mirsky Racing Team).
After the completion of racing last night Williams commented 'You have to be right on the money and we were not.'
Today he knows he had to be and Williams started with a workman like victory over the Malaysian Match Racing champion Hazwan Hazim Dermawan (MAS).
He then lost to Sebastien Col (ALL4One) and Magnus Holmberg (Victory Challenge).
At the start of racing on day two of the Monsoon Cup the Asian Match Racing champion, New Zealander Phil Robertson, was also 1-3. His victory yesterday was against Ian Williams.
Dockside this morning Robertson was optimistic. 'Two of the races we lost yesterday, were our own mistakes. We are aiming to do better today!'
Mathematically a team needs six wins to get through to the quarter-finals.
Robertson did not expect to beat Peter Gilmour the defending Monsoon Cup champion. Gilmour was aggressive in the starting box, but impressively Robertson outgunned him. Gilmour attracted two penalties in the pre-start; one a red flag meaning he must take one penalty immediately. Game over.
Sailing against the World Tour ranked number two Torvar Mirsky, Robertson forced the Australian to the left side of the starting line. Robertson was fast to the right hand current elevator and sailed to victory.
Then came the Kiwi match up - Robertson against fellow New Zealander Adam Minoprio who is the Tour leader.
Minoprio and his crew were confident ahead of the match, but Robertson took control in the pre-start and grabbed the right hand side of the course.
They were sailing bow to stern when the two boats reached the current at the top mark. Robertson was just a length ahead but down the run he extended to three lengths. He held the lead and went on to win.
It was quiet onboard Minoprio's boat at the end of the match. Minoprio commented 'We want Phil to win lots of matches - just not against us. He is on a hot streak today that's for sure.'
The world ranked number 26 finished a great morning's work beating Damien Iehl.
Robertson is now 5-3 and is heading for the quarter-finals.
Roberton's smile was broad dockside and he said 'Who would have believed this possibility after yesterday? Actually we were pretty much on the pace yesterday but we made a few silly mistakes.
'It was just fine tuning. Today we won all our starts and the boys just kept us going fast down the track.
'With Gilmour, Mirsky and Minoprio, all three, we managed to get to the right of them and push them down the line and then we were able to tack off towards the current.
'In our fourth match Damien Iehl was under a lot of pressure, he made a mistake on his timed run and that was it.
'Actually we've found overall there is an advantage going out in tide in the pre-start, it has allowed us to get enough gauge to come back and control.
'All in all, one of our best morning's work!'
Day 2 (03/12/09) Round Robin Results at 13.18hrs
Magnus Holmberg (SWE) - Victory Challenge 5-2
Sebastien Col (FRA) - French Match Racing Team/ALL4ONE 5-2
Phil Robertson (NZL) - WAKA Racing Team 5-3
Ben Ainslie (GBR) - Team Origin 4-2
Torvar Mirsky (AUS) - Mirsky Racing Team 4-2
Mathieu Richard (FRA) - French Match Racing Team 4-2
Adam Minoprio (NZL) - Emirates Team New Zealand/BlackMatch Racing 4-2
Peter Gilmour (AUS) - YANMAR Racing 3-4
Damien Iehl (FRA) - French Match Racing Team 3-5
Ian Williams (GBR) - Team Pindar 2-5
Francesco Bruni (ITA) - Team Azzura 1-5
Hazwan Hazim Dermawan (MAS) - Taring Pelangi Team 0-6
../..
by Rob Kothe
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Williamstown, VIC
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