Pierroz Leads at Macao Match Cup – World Match Racing Tour Kicks Off
MACAO, CHINA – The 2026 World Match Racing Tour season began today with a challenging opening day of racing at the Macao Match Cup. France’s Aurélien Pierroz emerged as the early leader, securing the first win of the tour against Australia’s Zac West.
Day One Highlights
Twelve of the world’s best international match racing teams are competing in the event, held on the Maliuzhou Waterway. Racing commenced mid-morning in light and building breeze conditions.
Key Match Results
- Aurélien Pierroz (FRA) defeated Zac West (AUS) in the opening race.
- Christian Prendergast (USA) upset Cole Tapper (AUS), currently ranked world Number #2.
- Ian Garreta (FRA) won a challenging race against Jeppe Borch (DEN) as wind pressure dropped.
- Oscar Engström (SWE) and Ian Garreta (FRA) both finished the day with four wins.
Top Performers
Engström reflected on his performance, stating: “It was definitely a decent first day for us. We’re happy with the result – the conditions were good out there but we had a little bit of everything. When it became very light, it was all about switching those slow feet to fast feet to keep the boat going fast in the light air.”
Garreta also had a strong showing, though he suffered a single loss in his final race of the day. He noted: “Unfortunately, Johnie [Berntsson] was better on that race, but overall a great day for us.”
Current Standings (Round Robin)
| Skipper | W | L | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cole Tapper | 1 | 0 | 38% |
| Johnie Berntsson | 1 | 0 | 50% |
| Ian Garreta | 0 | 1 | 63% |
| Aurélien Pierroz | 0 | 1 | 88% |
| Christian Prendergast | 1 | 0 | 63% |
| Jeppe Borch | 1 | 0 | 50% |
| Oscar Engström | 1 | 1 | 67% |
| Nick Egnot-Johnson | 1 | 0 | 56% |
| Tom Picot | 0 | 1 | 50% |
| Ruairi Finnegan | 1 | 0 | 22% |
| Marcello Torre | 0 | 0 | 11% |
| Zac West | 1 | 1 | 44% |
Looking Ahead
The Macao Match Cup continues through March 29th, with teams competing in FarEast 28R keelboats. The event serves as the opening stage of the 2026 World Match Racing Tour season.
FAQ
- Who won the first race of the 2026 World Match Racing Tour? Aurélien Pierroz (FRA) defeated Zac West (AUS).
- Where is the Macao Match Cup being held? The event is taking place on the Maliuzhou Waterway in Macao, China.
- How many teams are competing? Twelve teams are vying for the title.
Stay tuned to 247sports.news for continued coverage of the 2026 Macao Match Cup and the World Match Racing Tour.