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| GOING FOR A THREE-PEAT |
Skipper Mark Mendelblatt and crew Ed Smyth (forward) and Dan Slater (middle) look to defend their title at the St. Moritz Match Race. (©Swedish Match Tour/Guido Cantini)
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Two-time St. Moritz Match Race champion Mark Mendelblatt of the U.S. (©Swedish Match Tour/Guido Cantini)
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Lake St. Moritz is an idyllic setting. (©Swedish Match Tour/Guido Cantini)
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St. MORITZ, Switzerland (Aug. 16, 2005) — Stage 3 of the 2005-’06 Swedish Match Tour, the St. Moritz Match Race, is the first of three new events on the Tour schedule. With a prize purse of SFr 150,000 (approximately $120,000), it is also one of the most lucrative events.
Tucked away in the Engadin region of the Swiss Alps at an elevation of 5,624 feet (1,856 meters) above sea level, Lake St. Moritz is visually stunning with pine trees and mountains all around it.
The Piz Bernina is the tallest peak in the area, measuring in at 13,284 feet (4,049 meters) above sea level. Other peaks in the area – Piz Palu, Corvatsch, Corviglia and Diavolezza – are well known skiing destinations at elevations between 9,500 feet (3000m) and 11,500 feet (3500m).
“The location is beautiful, up in the mountains,” said Mark Mendelblatt (USA), the reigning champion. “The wind is very shifty, but the great thing is the people; the organizers are very nice. It’s just a good time.”
This is the third year of the St. Moritz Match Race and it has known only one champion: Mendelblatt. The 32-year-old is better known as an Olympic class one-design sailor. He represented the U.S. in the Laser class at the Athens Olympics last summer and placed 8th. Five months ago in March he won the Star Bacardi Cup, one of the most coveted Star regattas in any given year.
AUDIO: Mark Mendleblatt discusses the St. Moritz Match Race and his two victories (6 MBs // 4m:50s)
Mendelblatt isn’t much of a match-racer, but he credits Ed Baird (USA) for teaching him about the discipline. He first gained entry to the St. Moritz Match Race as a member of the OneWorld Challenge for the America’s Cup in 2003, and last year he took time out from his Olympic campaign to defend his title.
His victories, however, have come against quality opponents, both from America’s Cup champions Alinghi. In 2003 Mendelblatt beat Murray Jones (NZL) and last year it was Peter Holmberg (ISV).
This year’s field boasts teams from five America’s Cup syndicates, a couple Olympic medalists, and strong match-race teams. They’ll all be racing in the Streamline 7.15, a 23-footer with bulb keel and trapezes for the crew to hike out on. But Mendelblatt likes his chances of repeating.
“I’ve got an excellent crew, a couple of good skiff sailors who are quick on the trapeze,” Mendelblatt said of crewmen Ed Smyth and Dean Slater. “Our weakness is probably me. I get a little turned around in the pre-start sometimes. Usually I try to get off to an even start and use my crew and boathandling to advantage around the racecourse. Having done it the last two years I think we have a good shot this year.”
Despite the high talent level, the conditions will be an equaling factor. Lake St. Moritz is small and the winds are very shifty. During today’s practice round the wind blew mainly from the north, but ranged in strength from 5 knots to 15 knots. Mendleblatt says there’s no rule of thumb for the lake.
“You try and sail on the lifted tack towards the pressure, but it’s kinda hard to discern where that is coming from sometimes,” he said. “Sometimes the wind doesn’t appear on the water until the last minute. You have to be ready for anything at any time.”
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RELATED CONTENT
St. Moritz Match Race Summary
St. Moritz Match Race 2005 Photo Gallery
St. Moritz 2005 Crew List
Boats: Streamline 7.15
Final Two Days of St. Moritz Live on Internet (Aug. 15, 2005)
Tour Adds St. Moritz Match Race (Feb. 10, 2005)
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Newsletter - September 2008
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