Dutch Team win in WMR Finals spectacle at Delta Lloyd Regatta

by Elliott 6m Sailing on 30 May 2011 The women’s match racing event provided plenty of drama and excitement for sailors and spectators at the Delta Lloyd Regatta.

In an exciting finals battle Team Groeneveld (NED) won gold in home waters. The final races delivered plenty of action and drama in a spectacular battle with Silje Lehtinen (FIN). Groenveld won the first match with a very tight finish. The wind increased for the second match and in a gust over 30 knots, the Dutch lost two crew overboard.

The Finnish won, taking the score to 1 all. In the decider and final match the wind was gusting up to 40 knots. Racing was tight throughout with lehtinen leading for most of the race but a powerful gust near the end propelled Groeneveld team towards the finish and allowed them to pass the Lehtinen just seconds before crossing the line.

Team Tunnicliffe (USA) took bronze winning the Petite Finale against Wang (CHN) 2-0. Lehtinen now leads on sailing world cup points just 1 point ahead of Groenveld. Racing close to shore the Elliott 6m keelboats and sailors certainly provided a spectacle for all and on one day high wind kept everyone ashore except the women’s keelboat event.