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07 / 11 / 2011
Autumnal, top class and very exciting - Keith Swinton wins the 20th BMW Berlin Match Race
Keith Swinton (Australia) beat Alvaro Morinho (Portugal) 3-2 in the finals, Wieser won bronze, golden autumn sun and winds at two speeds lured a total of nearly 5,000 spectators to the Wannsee award ceremony at the BMW Sailing Base.
"We are very happy and completely satisfied to be able to prevail against this high-class competition," said Keith Swinton, helmsman of the Australian Black Swan Racing team, as he was greeted with applause and champagne at the dock. In the best-of-five final, the two teams kept the competition open until the last minute. Only the fifth race decided over victory and defeat, the prize money totaling nearly 20,000 € and the valuable ranking points. "If this continues, we’ll need defibrillators," said sports presenter Nils Kaben as it came to a showdown at the last down-wind course. The Australian team secured overall victory at around 3pm with a lead of only one boat length.
The jubilant crew, winners of the 20th BMW Berlin Match Race, hugged each other and around 750 spectators on the escort ships "MS Schöneberg" and "MS Kreuzberg" and the many volunteers and visitors on land applauded.
"To be honest my money was on Morinho. He was pretty strong," said Markus Wieser, who was defeated in the semi-finals by the Portuguese sailor. Wieser gave everything once again in the small final and won 2-0. "The young Australian has really surprised me with his victory - congratulations."
In the afternoon the well-known sports presenters Nils Kaben (ZDF) and Andre Keil (NDR) paid tribute to the winners at the BMW Sailing Cup Base. Andreas Pochhammer, chairman of the Sailing Club House on the Wannsee (VSaW), and Oliver Witte, chairman of the Berlin Yacht Club closed the 20th Edition of the BMW Berlin Match Race with heartfelt thanks to organisers, sponsors and especially to the many volunteers. "We’ve all come together to make this event possible. We are delighted with the event and are now looking to 2012. "
All results can be found at: Results
