ISAF Sailing World Championships - Tunnicliffe and team take title

by Anna Tunnicliffe on 17 Dec 2011
Anna Tunnicliffe, Molly Vandemoer, and Debbie Capozzi who together make up Team Maclaren, today took first place in Women’s Match Racing at the ISAF Sailing World Championship in Perth, Australia. Anna Tunncliffe now brings us up to date on their thrilling victory over Team Macgregor, GBR.

We Won!! We won the 2011 ISAF Sailing Women's Match Racing World Championships this afternoon after defeating Team Macgregor, GBR. We had four very good and tight races that provided great spectating for the crowds. All the races were very close, but ultimately we came out on top all four races. The first two races came down to penalties that Team Macgregor got, either in the pre-start or on the race course.

After the third start, Lucy had a couple of lengths lead that she extended on us. Up the second windward leg, we caught back up and rounded right behind her at the top mark. Downwind, as we sailed in very close quarters, we drew a penalty on her and won that race too.

The fourth race was similar, only the positions were opposite. We had the great lead off the line, which she closed up on the second lap. Downwind, going for the finish, we sailed clean of penalties. Lucy got a puff and a surge of speed as we closed the line but we just managed to squeak ahead and the race ended with us crossing the line, literally, only inches in front of her.

We are so excited to have won. This is Molly's and my first World Match Racing title, and Debbie's third. The girls did an amazing job around the course and put us in great places.

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Tomorrow we have to put the boats to bed in a shipping container before we head back to the USA for the holidays.

In addition to our sponsors, we would like to thank, Rich, Nick, Liz, and Greg from Sail Sheboygan for all of their hard work with the fleet of Elliott 6m's this week. Also to Terry Kohler for his donation of the fleet for this event. And thank you Perth for a wonderful event. And to Coach Dave Dellenbaugh.

We would very much like to thank our Title Sponsor, Maclaren, our Gold Level Sponsors 11th Hour Racing and Laser Performance, and our Bronze Level Sponsors Carmeuse, Trinity Yachts, Chicago Match Race Center and Sperry Top-Siderfor their continued support of our campaign for the 2012 Olympic Games. We would also like to thank US Sailing Team AlphaGraphics (USSTAG) and its sponsors for their continued support.

Also, thank you to our private donors. Please remember that any and all donations/contributions to our campaign should be made payable directly to either The Sailing Foundation of New York (tax deductible) memo'd Anna Tunnicliffe, or to Anna Tunnicliffe.

Sail Hard. And as usual, don't forget, email us your questions and comments. We love getting them and sharing our love of sailing and women's match racing.

Perth ISAF Sailing World Championships website

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