Women's Match Racing gets intense at the ISAF Sailing Worlds

by Elliott 6m Sailing on 12 Dec 2011
The Women’s Match Racing repecharge continued Sunday on Fremantle’s Inner Harbour at the Perth 2011 ISAF Sailing World Championships.

Racing was close and exciting all day and with only four points between the top and bottom teams, there was plenty of opportunity for sailors to advance through to the quarterfinals.

A number of lead changes in the match up between the two Australian teams of Nicky Souter and Olivia Price and some very close sailing had the fans in the grandstand on the edge of their seats. But it was Olivia Price’s AUS-2 team who managed to edge over the line first. At the end of Sunday’s racing, Price (AUS-2) was leading with 7 wins and 2 losses, followed by Macgregor (GBR) on 6 wins and 1 loss, and Kjellberg (SWE-1) on 6 wins and 3 losses.

The final races of the repecharge are expected to be completed Monday, and at this stage any of the eight teams could come through and join the top four teams of Le Roy (FRA), Skudina (Rus), Tunnicliffe (USA) and Mulder (NED) in the Gold fleet quarter finals.

These skippers have secured Olympic slots for their countries. Eight places are up for grabs in total, plus the host nation, with the Lucy MacGregor already selected to represent GBR. Over the past nine days the racing has been an intense battle of wits and skill between the top match racing skippers in the world.

The impressive sailing provides thrilling entertainment for the packed grandstand and crowds lining the wharf.

With 27 teams in the event, the race committee has worked tirelessly to get through the large number of races in light winds and the challenges of holding an event in a shipping port.

Racing will continue through the week and the final medal races will be held on Friday.