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These are not the best of days for the World Match Racing Tour. What once was the proving ground for current and aspiring America’s Cup sailors is now seeking sunlight for this niche corner of the sport.
Foiling boats have little need for the tour format, with America’s Cup experience coming from high performance one designs and the SailGP league. The tour lost momentum in the pandemic, while a relationship with Chinese money effectively turned off the lights.
After the 2020 Open Match Racing World Championship was somehow hosted by Bermuda in October, and won by Taylor Canfield (USA), Chinese border restrictions cancelled the 2021 Worlds and nearly again in 2022, with a late shift from China to Australia allowing the title event, which is hosted by the tour, to be held.
Up to 12 teams were invited for the 2022 Worlds on December 14-18 but when defending match racing world champion Taylor Canfield (USA) and six-time world champion Ian Williams (GBR) declined to participate, lower seeds eventually filled ten slots for racing Elliott 7 boats on Sydney Harbour.
At least it is assumed they are lower seeds as World Sailing has not updated the international rankings since April 2020, but back then six of the skippers at the 2022 Worlds were outside the top 25. However, Nick Egnot-Johnson (NZL), ranked third 32 months ago, proved his worth to claim the 2022 Open Match Racing World title in his first attempt at the championship.
After finishing the qualifying round robin series in fourth, Egnot-Johnson dropped just one race in the Repechage, Quarter Final, and Semi Final Rounds before facing Round Robin winner Chris Poole (USA) in the Finals. The Kiwi and American traded wins through the first four races before Egnot-Johnson sealed the victory in the match’s deciding fifth race.
Representing Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron, Egnot-Johnson’s team included Zak Merton, Sam Barnett, and Bradley McLaughlin.
There have been no announcements yet for the 2023 World Match Racing Tour, though it is likely the schedule will begin with the 58th Congressional Cup on April 18-22, 2023. As for the rest… standing by.
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