Former World Champions Leading the Way
– Macgregor Undefeated at End of Day Two
Despite a long day on the water in blustery conditions, 2010 Women’s Match Racing World Champion Lucy Macgregor (GBR) was quite upbeat about her team’s performance and their placement on the top of the standing after two days of racing in the 2017 Women’s Match Racing World Championship in Helsinki. “It’s been a really long day and we’re all pretty tired, but happy to have finished the day off strong with a good scorecard” commented a tired Macgregor.
Unlike the first day that saw bright sunshine and very light winds, day two dawned with clouds and cold south winds. But to the delight of the race committee the cold winds were from a steady direction. With good winds the Principal Race Officer, Annika Ekman (SWE), and Course Race Officer, Timo Mustakallio (FIN), ran thirteen flights – sixty-nine races – while on the water for over ten hours. “We were very happy to have this team of mark layers with great passion to always keep their marks in a good position despite the long hours on the water”, complimented Ekman at the end of the day.
Macgregor and her team, Team Mac, were also on the water for nine of those flights and she complimented her teammates: “The communication within the team is working really well. We’ve got some really naturally talented sailors on board, which makes a huge difference. And although we are match racing, at the end of the day it’s just a boat race and it’s just about being quick and going the right way and controlling the other boat. And I’m really happy with how the team is sailing together.” Macgregor’s tactician is local sailing hero, Silja (Lehtinen) Frost (FIN) – the 2013 Women’s Match Racing World Champion.
One of Macgregor’s matches was with defending World Champion, Team Anna. Skipper Anna Östling (SWE) described the racing as “really close, exciting and fun” despite losing the close match.
Large crowds are expected tomorrow evening as the racing will be center stage as the afterwork featured entertainment at the outdoor restaurants and terraces of Hernesaaren Ranta.
Results in the 2017 Women’s Match Racing World Championship, the first event of the 2017 WIM Series, after day 2 of the round-robin (skipper, nationality, wins – losses, winning percentages):
- Lucy Macgregor, GBR, 10 – 0, 100%
- Renée Groeneveld, NED, 6 – 1, 86%
- Trine Palludan, DEN, 5 – 1, 83%
- Anna Östling, SWE, 6 – 3, 67%
- Mikaela Fors, FIN, 4 – 2, 67%
- Caroline Sylvan, SWE, 4 – 3, 57%
- Marinella Laaksonen, FIN, 5 – 4, 56%
- Johanna Bergqvist, SWE, 6 – 5, 55%
- Pauline Courtois, FRA, 4 – 5, 44%
- Martina Karlemo, FIN, 3 – 7, 30%
- Margot Riou, FRA, 3 – 7, 30%
- Sanna Häger, SWE, 1 – 6, 14%
- Antonia Degerlund, FIN, 0 – 6, 0%
- Ekaterina Kochkina, RUS, 0 – 7, 0%
The racing continues Sunday with the round-robin on the waters at Hernesaari (Ärtholmen), to be followed by quarterfinals, semi finals and then the conclusion with the final on the longest day of the year, Wednesday 21 June.
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The Women’s International Match Racing Series (WIM Series) is the first and only professional sailing series for women, hosted by the Women’s International Match Racing Association and joined by the world’s leading women match racing sailors. Match racing is sailed in two identical boats around a short course, providing fast action close to the crowds on shore. The intense racing is just as exciting for the spectators as it is strategically, tactically and physically challenging for the competing crews.
2017 WIM Series (date, event name, location, boat type):
* 16-21 June – 2017 Women’s Match Racing World Championship – Helsinki, Finland – J/80
* 7-12 August – 2017 Lysekil Women’s Match – Lysekil, Sweden – Fareast 28
* 13-18 November – 2017 Busan Cup Women’s International Match Race – Busan, South Korea – K30
* 30 November – 3 December – 2017 Carlos Aguilar Match Race – St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands – IC 24
The WIM Series is hosted by WIMRA. Official suppliers are Sailnet, Sebago, MILK, Adstream, Intertidal Ventures, Fredag and Match Racing Results Service.
Images: A number of hi-res images are available for download on www.wimseries.com/media/
Video: All videos are available on www.wimseries.com/videos/
More information about the Women’s International Match Racing Series:
WIM Series Manager Liz Baylis, [email protected], +1 415 691 6202
www.wimseries.com
www.facebook.com/WIMSeries
www.twitter.com/WIMSeries
www.youtube.com/WIMRSeries
www.instagram.com/WIMSeries
Nyländska Jaktklubben, NJK, was founded in 1861 and is with more than 2 000 members and numerous yacht racing accomplishments the leading Finnish Yacht Club. NJK has trained several Olympic champions, and has a great heritage within match racing. The event venue of the 2017 Women’s Match Racing World Championship will be close to the shore in the southern part of the town, near Eira and Hernesaari (Ärtholmen) areas. The former industrial site of Hernesaari is transforming into a residential area, and thanks to the great sea views, the Hernesaaren ranta restaurant complex and the Löyly public sauna, the place has quickly become very popular.
More information about the 2017 Women’s Match Racing World Championship:
Local Press Officer Leena Vento-Selen, [email protected], +358 50 389 46 00
http://www.njk.fi/2017wmrwc/
www.facebook.com/womensmatchracingworlds/
www.twitter.com/NjkHelsingfors
The World Sailing Women’s Match Racing World Championship is an annual event that was first held in Genoa, Italy in 1999, after a successful event was held as part of the 1998 ISAF Sailing World Championship in Dubai, UAE. Skippers are invited to attend the Championship based on their World Sailing Match Racing Ranking position. Denmark’s Dorte Jensen is the most successful sailor, having amassed four World Championship titles.
World Sailing Communications Department, [email protected], + 44 2380 635 111
http://www.sailing.org/events/womensmatchworlds/index.php
