The 13th edition of Match Race Berlin was held over this weekend. With four entrants placed in the top 12 of the match race rankings, two teams from Alinghi, two further teams from the prospective German America's Cup Challenge, Fresh 17, as well as the winner from the previous year, it was a hot line-up.

The weather, however, was on the chilly side, as to be expected from Berlin in late autumn.

The competitors were divided into two groups for round robins to begin with, based on the ISAF rankings. Rankings are an indisputable way of dividing competitors for such purposes, and probably the only realistic means of doing so, but do not always reflect the quality of individuals, since much is dependent on what events people have competed in.

One group, with existing champion Markus Wieser, and last year's runner-up, Mathieu Richard, both the winner and runner-up from the spring match race in Berlin - Jochen Schuemann and Stefan Meister - Britain's Ian Williams and qualifier, H-boat sailor stalwart Hans-Juergen Swoboda, looked on paper rather tougher than the other, although, eventually, two teams from each round robin made it through to the semis and one each to the finals.

Perhaps no surprise then that Schuemann easily beat Jablonski 2-0 in their semi and Nordbjaerg overcame Richard by the same score.

For the petit-final, Richard's bad day just got worse and Jablonski's a little better, as Jablonski won 2-0 without too much contest.

In the finals, Schuemann dominated the pre-start of the first race and pushed Nordbjaerg over the line early. Schuemann was able to establish a good lead from this and was never headed.

The second race saw a split-tack start. Schuemann found better pressure and played the shifts well and was ahead when the boats came together near the top mark – a lead that he did not relinquish.

The third race was more contested. Both had reasonable starts but Schuemann quickly establish a lead that he did not relinquish to the finish. Result: 3-0 to Schuemann.

Finals Results

Jochen Schuemann def. Lars Nordbjaerg, 3-0
Karol Jablonski def. Mathieu Richard, 2-0

Semifinals Results

Lars Nordbjaerg def. Mathieu Richard, 2-0
Jochen Schuemann def. Karol Jablonski, 2-0