Bjorn Hansen was named king of the Korea Match Cup for the first time today beating Francesco Bruni in a thrilling finale to the third stage of the World Match Racing Tour. Hansen (SWE) Mekonomen Sailing Team held onto his nerve as the Final went to sudden death, eventually defeating Bruni (ITA) Bruni Racing by three wins to two.

It is Hansen’s first win on the World Match Racing Tour since he claimed Match Cup Sweden in 2007 and only his second ever Tour victory. Despite losing out to Hansen, Bruni also had reason to celebrate as the result moves him to the top of the World Match Racing Tour overall standings.

“We had a tough start to the World Match Racing Tour, coming last at Match Race France and then third to bottom at Match Race Germany so we knew we had to really raise our game,” Hansen said. “We also knew we love this event and had a good chance to get a result here in Korea. Fransceco has been sailing really well this season and we knew we were going to have to sail really well to beat him. To beat him round the course we knew we had to win the starts and thankfully we did that three times in the Final.”

He added: “To win the Korea Match Cup feels fantastic. My team have done a great job this week. I’m so happy, it has been four years since we won an event on the World Match Racing Tour. It feels like we really earned this win.”

2011 Korea Match Cup results:
Final
Bjorn Hansen (SWE) Mekonomen Sailing Team beat Francesco Bruni (ITA) Bruni Racing 3-2

Petit Final
Ian Williams (GBR) Team GAC Pindar beat Peter Gilmour (AUS) YANMAR Racing 2-0

Final Positions at the 2011 Korea Match Cup:

1. Bjorn Hansen (SWE) Mekonomen Sailing Team
2. Francesco Bruni (ITA) Bruni Racing
3. Ian Williams (GBR) Team GAC Pindar
4. Peter Gilmour (AUS) YANMAR Racing
5. Mathieu Richard (FRA) French Match Racing Team
6. Torvar Mirsky (AUS) The Wave Muscat
7. Johnie Berntsson (SWE) Berntsson Sailing Team
8. Paul Campbell-James (UK) Dream Team
9. Phil Robertson (NZL) WAKA Racing
10. Damien Iehl (FRA) French Match Racing Team
11. Sung Wook Kim (KOR) Busan Match Team
12. Reuben Corbett (NZL) AON Racing Team

2011 ISAF World Match Racing Tour Standings (after 3 stages):

1. Francesco Bruni (ITA) Bruni Racing – 59pts
2. Peter Gilmour (AUS) YANMAR Racing – 48pts
3. Damien Iehl (FRA) French Match Racing Team – 41pts
4. Torvar Mirsky (AUS) The Wave Muscat – 31pts
5. Jesper Radich (DEN) Adrian Lee & Partners – 28pts
6. Bjorn Hansen (SWE) Mekonomen Sailing Team – 27pts
7. Phil Robertson (NZL) WAKA Racing – 27pts
8. Mathieu Richard (FRA) French Match Racing Team – 24pts
9. Bertrand Pace (FRA) Aleph Sailing Team – 22pts
10. Ian Williams (GBR) Team GAC Pindar – 21pts

Tags on NauticNews: WMRT – Bjorn Hansen

Photo credit : SubZero Images, Korea Match Cup

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