“(Down 0-2) I changed my game plan, it wasn’t the crew, it was my mistakes,” confessed Radich. “I decided to get to the line earlier to make it much more aggressive with sharp maneuvers. That’s what the America’s Cup guys do, and what we needed to do today.”

While not yet mathematically having clinched the Swedish Match Tour championship, the only scenario that would deny the young Dane of the title would be if he finished lower than sixth overall at the Swedish Match Cup while Australia’s James Spithill won the regatta.

Also advancing to the quarterfinals are US Virgin Islander Peter Holmberg of Pelle Petterson Yachting and last year’s Swedish Match Tour champion, Australia’s Peter Gilmour of Team Pizza-La, a five-time winner of the Swedish Match Cup, last year’s Swedish Match Tour champion, Poland’s Karol Jablonski, Denmark’s Jesper Bank, former helmsman of the Victory Challenge and Great Britain’s Chris Law of “The Outlaws.” They are joined by Spithill, former helmsman of the OneWorld Challenge, and Sweden’s Mattias Rahm of Team Stena Bulk, who previously advanced as top finishers in their respective groups.

Peter Holmberg and his crew had the shortest day of any of the 12 teams out on the water, winning their battle with Italy’s Paolo Cian of the Riviera di Rimini Sailing Team 3-0.

“It was definitely tricky out there today with the direction the wind was coming in,” said Holmberg. “I’m fortunate to have some very good crew sailing with me this week and that can make the difference.”

Meanwhile, Gilmour won his first match against Finland’s Staffan Lindberg then dropped the next two, putting his back against the wall and his chances of advancing in jeopardy, before fighting back to win the final two matches to advance in a taut thriller.

Jablonski also found himself in a tight five-match affair against local skipper Johnnie Berntsson, while Bank and Law advanced on 3-1 scores against their opponents Great Britain’s Andy Beadsworth of Team Henri Llyod and Sweden’s Mikael Lindqvist, respectively.

Tomorrow’s Quarterfinal pairings (first-to-two points):
Spithill vs. Jablonski
Gilmour vs. P. Holmberg
Rahm vs. Bank
Law vs. Radich

Early morning mist gave way to afternoon sunshine at the Swedish Match Cup, brightening the spirits of all in attendance, while a 10-12 knot breeze made for exciting racing in the event-supplied DS 37 match racers.

The Swedish Match Cup resumes on Saturday morning with the first-to-two points quarterfinals and sail-offs, followed by the Swedish Match Cup Women’s Class finals in the afternoon.

KNOCK-OUT SERIES (First-to-score-three points)
Flight 1
Gilmour def. Lindberg
P. Holmberg def. Cian
Jablonski def. Berntsson

Flight 2
Lindberg def. Gilmour
P. Holmberg def. Cian
Jablonski def. Berntsson

Flight 3
Lindberg def. Gilmour
P. Holmberg def. Cian
Berntsson def. Jablonski

Flight 4
Gilmour def. Lindberg
Berntsson def. Jablonki
Bank def. Beadsworth

Flight 5
Gilmour def. Lindberg-DNF
Jablonski def. Berntsson
Beadsworth def. Bank

Flight 6
Law def. Lindqvist
M. Holmberg def. Radich
Bank def. Beadsworth

Flight 7
Lindqvist def. Law
M. Holmbeg def. Radich
Bank def. Beadsworth

Flight 8
Law def. Lindqvist
Radich def. M. Holmberg

Flight 9
Law def. Lindqvist
Radich def. M. Holmberg

Flight 10
Radich def. M. Holmberg

For all the latest news from the Swedish Match Tour visit www.swedishmatchtour.com.

Source: Shawn McBride