Time for semis and final in Helsinki

– round-robin winner Groeneveld to choose opponent

All of the quarterfinals in Helsinki Women’s Match were won 2 – 0. As winner of the round-robin, Renée Groeneveld (NED) can now choose her semi final opponent among Camilla Ulrikkeholm Klinkby (DEN), Pauline Courtois (FRA) and Anna Östling (SWE):
“I’ll discuss that with my crew first” she states and builds the suspense.

Thursday morning in Helsinki, Finland, offered a mostly grey sky with occasional showers and in between also a little sun. But the very light wind bothered the race committee and the sailors more, as racing had to be postponed for several hours around midday. Finally the small patches of wind spread out and allowed the last flights of the round-robin to be sailed, but still in very light conditions.

Renée Groeneveld (NED) defeated Pauline Courtois (FRA) to secure the Dutch 10 – 1 score in the round-robin. In the very last flight of the round-robin, Danish World #1 Camilla Ulrikkeholm Klinkby went to the same score, by winning her match over sparring partner Anna Östling (SWE):
“I’m always happy to take a win against Anna, but maybe it was more drifting than sailing for some parts of this race” the Danish skipper comments.

As winner of the round-robin, Groeneveld picked 8th placed local hero Antonia Degerlund as her quarterfinal opponent. They concluded Thursday’s racing at Hernesaari (Ärtholmen) in beautiful conditions with bright sunshine and a steady breeze, but with a very disappointing result for the cheering Finnish crowds: 2 – 0 in Dutch favour:
“I think we took control already in the pre-starts, gaining a 15 seconds lead quite early in both races. In the second match we also managed to stretch that more” Groeneveld says.

After having cleared a penalty, for not keeping clear when both boats had to turn back after a premature start, Östling just barely won the tight and very eventful first match against the other Finnish quarterfinalist, Marinella Laaksonen. Then the Swede went to 2 – 0 after an easier win in the second race:
“Marinella beat us in the round-robin this morning, and we didn’t want that to happen again. They are a great team, and we had to work hard to win” Östling says.

Another eventful quarterfinal was the one between Östling’s compatriot Caroline Sylvan and Courtois, with several luffing situations and penalties in the first match, finally narrowly won by the French team. The second match was not as tight, and the French team secured their semi final slot with another win.

When Ulrikkeholm Klinkby beat Rikst Dijkstra (NED) with a clear 2 – 0 in their quarterfinal, all of the quarters had finished with exactly the same figures. Groeneveld now has the challenging task to choose her semi final opponent from a trio of very skilled match racing skippers from as many countries:
“I’ll discuss that with my crew first” she smiles, refusing to reveal anything until Friday.

Quarterfinal results in the Helsinki Women’s Match, the opening event of the 2016 WIM Series:
Renée Groeneveld, NED – Antonia Degerlund, FIN, 2 – 0
Camilla Ulrikkeholm Klinkby, DEN – Rikst Dijkstra, NED, 2 – 0
Caroline Sylvan, SWE – Pauline Courtois, FRA, 0 – 2
Anna Östling, SWE – Marinella Laaksonen, FIN, 2 – 0

Round-robin results (skipper, nationality, wins – losses):
1. Renée Groeneveld, NED, 10 – 1
2. Camilla Ulrikkeholm Klinkby, DEN, 10 – 1
3. Caroline Sylvan, SWE, 8 – 3
4. Anna Östling, SWE, 8 – 3
5. Marinella Laaksonen, FIN, 7 – 4
6. Pauline Courtois, FRA, 6 – 5
7. Rikst Dijkstra, NED, 4 – 7
8. Antonia Degerlund, FIN, 4 – 7
9. Susanna Kukkonen FIN, 3 – 8
10. Diana Kissane, IRL, 3 – 8
11. Sanna Häger, SWE, 2 – 9
12. Sanna Mattsson, SWE, 1 – 10

Friday July 1 will see the event wrap up with semi finals and final on the race course and the closing ceremonies at Hernesaari (Ärtholmen).

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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