After being on the verge of elimination just 36 hours earlier, Peter Holmberg wins the 2nd annual Monsoon Cup.

The 46-year-old helmsman candidate for America’s Cup defense syndicate Alinghi, defeated Richard, the 30-year-old French surgical match-racer, 3-2.

Holmberg’s Alinghi crew included Rodney Ardern, Lorenzo Mazza, Piet Van Nieuwenhuyzen and Dean Phipps. They finished with a 14-9 record and won MYR250,000 (approx. $69,500) of the MYR 1 million (approx. $278,000) prize purse.

Mathieu Richard sailed with regulars Thierry Briend, Greg Evrard, Olivier Herledant and Yannick Simon. The Saba Sailing Team finished with a 14-10 record and won MYR150,000 (approx. $41,700).

Holmberg and Richard got to the final by beating Peter Gilmour (AUS), PST, and Ian Williams (GBR), Team Pindar, respectively. Each match was decided by 2-1 scores.

In the Petite Final, Williams solidified his position atop the Match Racing World Championship standings when he defeated Gilmour 2-1.

Williams now leads the series with 62 points, 12 points ahead of Richard who leaped into second with his runner-up finish.

The World Match Racing Tour will resume on May 23th at Match Race Germany. Next year the Monsoon Cup will be the final event of the 2006-’07 season, and will crown the 2007 World Champion.

Final & Petit Final round

Flight 1 : Mathieu Richard def. Peter Holmberg - Ian Williams def. Peter Gilmour

Flight 2 : Peter Holmberg def. Mathieu Richard - Peter Gilmour def. Ian Williams

Flight 3 : Peter Holmberg def. Mathieu Richard - Ian Williams def. Peter Gilmour

Flight 4 : Mathieu Richard def. Peter Holmberg

Flight 5 : Peter Holmberg def. Mathieu Richard

Semifinals round

Flight 1 : Ian Williams def. Mathieu Richard - Peter Holmberg def. Peter Gilmour

Flight 2 : Mathieu Richard def. Ian Williams - Peter Gilmour def. Peter Holmberg

Flight 3 : Mathieu Richard def. Ian Williams - Peter Holmberg def. Peter Gilmour