ISAF Match Race Rankings for 14 May 2014
by ISAF on 14 May 2014
Taylor Canfield - Congressional Cup 2014 Rich Roberts
The ISAF Match Race Rankings for 14 May 2014 have been released. Taylor Canfield (ISV) and Camilla Ulrikkeholm (DEN) hold onto the world number one in the Open and Women's ISAF Match Race Rankings ahead of a jam packed summer of match race action.
Open Rankings
It's the calm before the storm in the Open Rankings with the Alpari World Match Racing Tour just around the corner. Taylor Canfield (ISV) sits atop of the Open Rankings for the seventh consecutive release and has a good advantage over the chasing pack.
The Alpari World Match Racing Tour kicks off with Match Race Germany from 5-9 June 2014 with Canfield atop of strong looking top five that includes world number two Ian Williams (GBR), world number three Bjorn Hansen (SWE), world number four Mathieu Richard (FRA) and world number five Phil Robertson (NZL). All five are tour card holders for the upcoming Alpari World Match Racing Tour.
With the Tour shaping up to be another classic with six scheduled events and eight strong tour card holders there will be ups and downs in the Open Rankings as the year progresses.
Whilst there's very little movement in the top 25 of the Open Rankings this month there are several movers and shakers further down with a string of ISAF Grade three, four and five regattas taking place.
Felix Oehme (GER) was dominant at the Ploener May 1.0 Match Race and the Ploener May 2.0 Match Race in Plon, Germany. Oehme claimed titles in both of the ISAF Grade three regattas and as a result moves up to world number 31 from world number 47.
Denmark's Christian Tang finished behind Oehme at both regattas with a second and a third but he is one of the month's biggest climbers. The Danish sailor now counts five regattas to his points total and climbs up to world number 74 from world number 153.
Italy's Michele Ivaldi is another big mover, going from world number 119 to world number 69. The Italian won the ISAF Grade three Spring Time Match Race and as a result climbs fifty places up the Open Rankings.
Philip Bendon (IRL) tasted success at the ISAF Grade three BUCS-BUSA Match Racing Championships in Weymouth, Great Britain and at the Ice Breaker Cup in Prita, Estonia. With maximum points from the Grade three regattas the Irish sailor jumps up ten spots to world number 36.
Florian Haufe (GER) finished third at the Bodensee Match Race Act 1 in Romanshorn, Bodensee, Switzerland. Whilst the regatta win went to world number 51 Roger Stocker, the points going Haufe's way benefitted him the most, going from world number 71 to world number 49.
Jeremy Koo (MAS) continues to climb up the Open Rankings following further success on his home Malaysian waters. Koo won the ISAF Grade three Liga Layer Malaysia (Lumut) to back up the success he had in February at the Langkawi edition. With Monsoon Cup appearances up his sleeve and showing good signs of progress Koo currently sits at a personal best of world number 38, up from his previous best of world number 51.
With plenty of other ISAF Grade three, four and five Match Racing regattas in Europe, North America and Asia there is plenty of movement in May's Open Match Race Ranking release.
Women's Rankings
There were no ISAF Graded Women's Match Racing Regattas in the current qualifying period but with a busy summer ahead plenty can and will change in the next few months.
The ISAF Women's Match Racing World Championship commences on 3 June 2014 in Cork, Ireland and runs through to 8 June.
The ISAF Women's Match Race Worlds will feature four of the top five Women's Match Racers. World number one Camilla Ulrikkeholm (DEN), world number two Anna Kjellberg (SWE), world number four Lotte Meldgaard Pedersen (DEN) and world number five Stephanie Roble (USA).
All four will be in contention to take their first ISAF Women's Match Racing Worlds title but stiff competition will also come from world number eight Caroline Sylvan (SWE), world number 15 Claudia Pierce (NZL) and world number 17 Anne-Claire Le Berre (FRA).
The ISAF Women's Match Race Worlds also acts as the first regatta of the Women's International Match Racing Series and following the race action in Cork, Ireland attentions will turn the remaining regattas.
From 24-27 July the Vannes, France will welcome competitors for the Women's Match Race Golfe du Morbihan. The Lysekil Women's Match in Lysekil, Sweden follows in August before the Buddy Melges Challenge in Sheboygan, USA in September. The Busan Cup Women's International Match Race will conclude the series in October.
With plenty of Women's Match Race battles on the horizon there will be many claims for the top ranking spots throughout the remainder of 2014.
Match racing - Open - Wednesday 14 May 2014
Match racing - Women - Wednesday 14 May 2014