Shenzhen, China (6 January, 2026)
The opening day of the 2025 World Match Racing Tour Final, running from 6-11 January in Shenzhen, delivered high-intensity racing from the first start, with close calls and razor-thin margins among the sixteen competing teams. Leading the first group of eight teams after completing four races is USA’s Christian Prendergast, aged 20, with three wins. In the second group, five teams are levelled at two wins in their first three matches.
Racing aboard the matched fleet of Far East 28 yachts in challenging and shifty conditions at Happy Harbour, the increased entry list of sixteen teams were split into two groups of eight, with the first group racing in the morning and the second in the afternoon.
Competing in his first WMRT Final, Prendergast and his crew, including Graham Spence, Mark Spearman, and Sam Gilmour (son of former WMRT Champion Peter Gilmour, AUS), made an impact with early wins over world-ranked number one match racer Chris Poole, former world champion Nick Egnot-Johnson, and Sweden’s Bjorn Hansen.
“It’s a challenging venue but it’s rewarding when you can win a race,” added Prendergast. “We are delighted to have been invited to Shenzhen, and we are just taking it one race at a time this week.”
In the first morning races, a sudden breeze led to surprising incidents, including a port-starboard incident resulting in a penalty for France’s Aurelién Pierroz, who later managed to clear the penalty and win the match.
Eight-time match racing world champion and current defending Shenzhen champion Ian Williams experienced a slow start to the day, as his team worked to regain their rhythm after a brief man-overboard incident, finishing with two wins out of four matches.
Qualifying rounds will resume Wednesday, with six days of racing scheduled through to Sunday, 11 January.
For more information, visit: 2025 WMRT Final Shenzhen Bao’an
2025 WMRT Final Shenzhen Bao’an skippers
🇺🇸 Chris Poole, USA – Riptide Racing (World ranking #1)
Crew: Malcolm Parker, Matthew Cornwell, Joachim Aschenbrenner
🇨🇭 Eric Monnin, SUI – Capvis Swiss Match Racing (World ranking #2)
Crew: Ute Monnin-Wagner, Simon Brügger, Maxime Mesnil, Yves-Marie Pilon
🇸🇪 Johnie Berntsson, SWE – Berntsson Sailing Team (World ranking #3)
Crew: Olof Lundgren, Linn Berntsson, Hans Oskarsson
🇫🇷 Ian Garreta, FRA – Med Racing (World ranking #4)
Crew: Camille Pfaff, Gaultier Tallieu, Calixte Benoit, Amandine Le Van Jacob
🇫🇷 Aurélien Pierroz, FRA – Match in Black (World ranking #5)
Crew: Aurélien Barthelemy, Clément Michel, Sébastien Riot, Kenza Coutard
🇦🇺 Cole Tapper, AUS – Kairos Racing (World ranking #6)
Crew: Jack Frewin, Hamish Vass, Max Brennan
🇳🇿 Nick Egnot-Johnson, NZL – Knots Racing (World ranking #7)
Crew: Samuel Barnett, Zak Merton, Chris Main, Zach Main
🇫🇷 Timothée Rossi, FRA – Sudistes Sailing Team (World ranking #8)
Crew: Leo Maurin, Theo Masse, Julien Bunel, Alice Chiappori
🇬🇧 Ian Williams, GBR – Pindar by Manuport Logistics (World ranking #10)
Crew: Gerard Mitchell, Richard Sydenham, Jon Gundersen
🇫🇷 Tom Foucher, FRA – APCC Sailing Team (World ranking #11)
Crew: Alexandre Declerck, Benjamin Pajusco, Armel Le Carrer, Victoire Lerat
🇮🇹 Rocco Attili, ITA – RBYS Racing (World ranking #13)
Crew: Luca Camilli Meletani, Ashik Crevatin, Livia Tarabella, Gianluca Perasole
🇺🇸 Christian Prendergast, USA – A Team (World ranking #17)
Crew: Sam Gilmour, Graeme Spence, Mark Spearman
🇫🇷 Pauline Courtois, FRA – Match in Pink by Normandy Elite (World ranking #19)
Crew: Maëlenn LEMAITRE, Louise ACKER, Sophie FAGUET, Laurane METTRAUX
For a complete list of teams and more information follow us on our social media channels or visit:
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