Paolo Cian
Italy
ISAF ranking: 3

The winner of the last ACI Match Race edition and a well known guest, Paolo Cian, is one of these who began his carrier in the optimist at an age of 5. As a member of the National Italian team he raced all dinghy classes from 420, 470 to J24, participating and achieving medals on European and World Championships. His Soling Olympic Campaign in 1998 brought him to match racing where he remained till this day.

Devoted to match racing since 2000, Paolo and his team reached excellent results worldwide being the first Italian to be consistently placed in the top 10. Thanks to these outstanding results, he was chosen for the helm of the young Italian Team, “Mascalzone Latino” to challenge the America’s Cup in 2003 in Auckland. Notably, straight after the elimination of Mascalzone Cian got an offer from Dennis Conner to join Team “Stars and Stripes” as helmsman of the B boat for the preparation of the quarter finals, additionally in March 2006 came the offer to join the first ever African Challenge, Team Shosholoza, as after guard and Match race coach.

His hard work with or without sparring partners, always trying to reach perfection, good team work and leading capabilities have made him the sailor he is today – 3. ranked in the Open ISAF Match Race list!

Sebastién Col
France
ISAF ranking: 4

The Frenchman Sebastian Col has just won the Korea Match Race Cup and is a member of the French match racing team that is working continuously and hard throughout the past years in different match race centres all over the country.
Known for his coolness in the hardest matches, Sebastian became one of the best French match racers over the years. During the last America's Cup edition he showed that he is also capable to match race in big boats. In the late 90s he just took part at the ACI Match Race, but this year he certainly wants to put himself in the list of the winners.

Torvar Mirsky
Australia
ISAF ranking: 7

Torvar Mirsky and his Mirsky Racing Team are the highest ranked youth match racing team in the world (7th). Skipper Torvar Mirsky started to sail in a very young age, gaining experience in dinghy classes such as 420, 49er, 5o5 an Laser, and won various national and world championships. At an age of only 22 Torvar has being referred to be the new “whiz kid” on the world tour. The team is becoming well known for their impeccable boat handling, teamwork, determination, and fiercely competitive sailing style.

Adam Minoprio
New Zealand
ISAF ranking: 8

Team BlackMatch Racing members are all graduates of the Royal New Zealand Youth Training Programme. Since their establishment in 2005 they have competed mainly in Australian events due to commitments to university and work. This year they dedicated themselves to European match racing. The skipper Adam has lifelong sailed on boats, he started racing at the age of seven and has been racing almost every weekend since then. As match racing has become his new discipline, he is also trying to coach match racing throughout Australia. Adam and his team are currently in the world top 10 (8).

Sergey Musikhin
Russia
ISAF ranking: 30

The young Russian skipper Sergey Musihin belongs to the Russian match racing school, where they have an emphasis on team work and spirit. Indeed, his team seems homogeneous and decisive, during the matches always ready to win and battle.

Przemek Tarnacki
Poland
ISAF ranking: 48

Przmek Tarnacki has always been from the beginning on into the top 100 of the Open Match Racing list. He has now the second best Polish team. Because of his valour and love for match racing he has concentrated in staging a Grade 1 event in Sopot where he has been developing a Polish Match Racing Centre. This achievement will definitely generate some good Polish match race sailors for the future.

Tomislav Bašić
Croatia
ISAF ranking: 56

Tomislav started with sailing very early, already in the dinghies: from the smallest Optimist class, than Europe, Laser and 470. He is one of the best Croatian Match Race Sailors who was skippering from 1996 till 2000 the ACI Match Race Team and was in the top 15 in the world. After an Olympic Campaign in the 470 participating in Athens 2004, Tomislav is nowadays back to match racing.

Bertrand Pacé
France
ISAF ranking: 102

Bertrand is a legend of the French and World match racing and winner of the ACI Match Race 2004 edition. Known for his aggressive sailing style and his specific way of seeing the matches, his matches always look very spectacular and are never boring. In his long sailing carrier, he has mainly dedicated the past years to match racing as well as America's Cup sailing, being part of Team France (together with Loïck Peyron) and the American BMW Oracle team in the last AC edition.

Dario Kliba
Hrvatska
ISAF ranking: 191

Dario won the first bronze medal in the Optimist class for Croatia, followed by some in Laser and a short career in 470 class. He started match racing four years ago. The best result of his Croatia One Match Race Team is the 5th place at the Europeans in 2006. It is Dario's fourth time at the ACI Match Race Cup and he hopes for some northerly “bura” wind on the course.

Frane Barbieri
Hrvatska
ISAF ranking: -

It is Frane Barbieri’s début at the ACI Match Race Cup this year. As the winner of the Croatian IMS Master Championship, Frane and his team represent a very well prepared team of high quality Croatian sailors. Even though Frane does not have much match racing experience, we believe his good crew work and IMS experience will help him in the ACI Match Race Cup.