Groeneveld to the top in Helsinki Women’s Match
– moves up after evening races with huge crowds on shore
Renee Groeneveld (NED) broke the dominance of Camilla Ulrikkeholm Klinkby (DEN), by winning their Wednesday match. On nine wins and just one loss, the Dutch skipper takes over the top position in the round-robin of the Helsinki Women’s Match, the opening event of the 2016 WIM Series:
“We had a really good day out there on the water today, winning all five of our matches” Groeneveld comments.
Wednesday’s racing started in the morning in excellent sailing conditions, with almost the same south-westerly breeze as seen on Tuesday, maybe just a little less. Then, at early afternoon, all sailors were called ashore, as the race committee wanted the sailors to have some rest before racing continued a few hours later. The break was planned, because the local yacht club Nyländska Jaktklubben (NJK) was keen to offer all evening strollers on the beach-walk of Hernesaari (Ärtholmen) a chance to see the races:
“A lot of people in Helsinki are not on holiday yet, so by racing after office hours we got probably the largest spectator crowds at a regatta in Finland ever” says NJK Sailing Center Manager Peik Åström.
As NJK took advantage of the bright Nordic evening for racing, it was Renee Groeneveld who shined more than the midnight sun on the water. The Dutch skipper and her crew lined up victory after victory, and continued their winning streak even after the afternoon break. The first evening match against the Danish World #1 was a tight one, after a pretty even start:
“We protected our starboard advantage and found more pressure on the right side of the course. I think that was the key” says the former World #1 (2010) Groeneveld.
“We made some small mistakes in the match, and a fairly short course also made it difficult for us to find an opportunity to pass Renee” Ulrikkeholm Klinkby explains.
World #3 Anna Östling (SWE) also put up a good performance today, winning all of her three races. Her total 7 – 1 score moves her to the runner-up position, just barely ahead of Camilla Ulrikkeholm Klinkby, who stays on 6 – 1 so far:
“We haven’t raced in J/80s for a couple of years, but now I think we’re beginning to find the trim, the speed and the manoeuvres. I’m hopeful for the rest of the regatta!” says the Swedish skipper.
Marinella Laaksonen from Espoo close to Helsinki is still the highest placed local skipper, on sixth place and definitely with a quarterfinal spot within her reach. Laaksonen was more or less given her first match of the day, when Swedish skipper Sanna Mattsson received her second penalty and failed to immediately do her penalty turn. The Swede got a black flag disqualification and the point went to Laaksonen. In her second and last match of the day Laaksonen lost to Groeneveld:
“Renee got the favourable right side from the start, caught the puffs out there and stretched her lead all the way around the course. There was really nothing we could do about it” the Finnish skipper admits, shaking her head.
Results in the Helsinki Women’s Match, the first event of the 2016 WIM Series, after day 2 of the round-robin (skipper, nationality, wins – losses):
1. Renée Groeneveld, NED, 9 – 1
2. Anna Östling, SWE, 7 – 1
3. Camilla Ulrikkeholm Klinkby, DEN, 6 – 1
4. Caroline Sylvan, SWE, 6 – 2
5. Pauline Courtois, FRA, 5 – 2
6. Marinella Laaksonen, FIN, 4 – 3
7. Antonia Degerlund, FIN, 4 – 6
8. Rikst Dijkstra, NED, 4 – 7
9. Susanna Kukkonen FIN, 3 – 8
9. Diana Kissane, IRL, 3 – 8
11. Sanna Häger, SWE, 2 – 6
12. Sanna Mattsson, SWE, 1 – 9
The round-robin concludes Thursday, to be immediately followed by the quarterfinals at Hernesaari (Ärtholmen). Semi finals and final will be sailed on Friday, July 1.
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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.
An overall prize purse of 50 000 USD will be distributed by the WIM Series in addition to the prize money at each of the four events included in the 2016 WIM Series (date, event name, location, boat type):
- June 27 – July 1, Helsinki Women’s Match, Helsinki, Finland, J/80.
- August 8 – 13, Lysekil Women’s Match, Lysekil, Sweden, DS 37.
- September 20 – 25, Women’s Match Racing World Championship & Buddy Melges Challenge, Sheboygan, USA, Elliott 6m.
- October 25 – 29, Busan Cup Women’s International Match Race, Busan, South Korea, K30.
- December 1 – 4, Carlos Aguilar Match Race, St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands, IC 24.
The WIM Series is hosted by WIMRA. The WIM Series is hosted by WIMRA. Official suppliers are Sailnet, Sebago, MILK, Sailing Education Association of Sheboygan, 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/
More information about the Women’s International Match Racing Series:
WIM Series Press Officer Joakim Hermansson, , +46 70 604 25 04
WIM Series Manager Liz Baylis, , +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 Helsinki Women’s Match 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 popular.
More information about the Helsinki Women’s Match:
Helsinki Women’s Match Press Officer Leena Vento-Selen, , +358 50 389 46 00
www.njk.fi/sailingcenter/2016-helsinki-womens-match
