Kuala Terengganu, Malaysia – 26 November, 2011
Berntsson Sailing Team skippered by Johnie Berntsson are the first team to reach the Final of the Monsoon Cup after defeating Peter Gilmour in a sudden death semi-final of the season finale of the World Match Racing Tour.
It is Berntsson’s second consecutive final after he reached the final of the penultimate event, the Argo Group Gold Cup, last month. Speaking about his semi-final, the Swede said: “It was really tight racing today and we only just won 3-2. It came down to small details and small decisions and we made the right ones so we’re happy with that.
“It’s terrific to be in the final, it means a lot to us. It puts us well on track and gives us a lot of confidence going forward.”
Gilmour, who could have finished in second place in the overall Championship had he won the Monsoon Cup, said: “It was a really hard day for us. We went to five (matches) in both the quarter-finals and the semi-finals so we weren’t as bright as a button near the end but that’s just making excuses. We don’t regret picking Johnie – he just out sailed us and full credit to him as they deserve to be in the finals.”
Commenting on the 2011 season, the four-time World Champion, said: “Racing has been tighter than ever this year, everyone is sailing better, they have game plans and are generally just sailing better. YANMAR will come back bigger and better next year and we’re looking forward to more racing.”
Berntsson will face either the new ISAF Match Racing World Champion Ian Williams or Jesper Radich (DEN) Adrian Lee & Partners who are still locked in their semi-final on 2-1 to Williams.
