Eight Teams To Compete in Inaugural Normandie Match Cup

Pauline Courtois (on the right) and her team - Lysekil Women's Match 2018 © Dan Ljungsvik

The 2019 Women's International Match Racing Series (WIM Series) kicks off in the historic port of Le Havre with the inaugural Normandie Match Cup. Eight of the top ranked teams from France, Sweden, Finland and Denmark will be competing to get important points on the scoreboard in the 2019 WIM Series.

The port city of Le Havre is steeped in maritime tradition as it is one of the largest commercial ports in France with container ship traffic as well as a growing cruise ship destination with its proximity to Paris. The city centre of Le Havre is a UNESCO heritage site featuring the unique architecture of renowned architect, August Perret. This week also marks a special time in Normandy as the world commemorates the 75th anniversary of the D-Day landing that united the Allies in the liberation of German-held France.

The event is hosted by the Ligue de Voile de Normandie with the support of the local yacht clubs Societe des Regates du Havre (SRH), Centre Nautique Paul Vatine (CNPV), Club de Voile de Saint Aubin Elbeuf (CVSAE), and Sports Nautique et Plaisance du Havre (SNPH).

Pauline Courtois, skipper of the Match in Pink by Normandy Elite Team - current World Ranked #1 and defending WIM Series champions is excited to be sailing in her home waters. "We are very happy to have all of the teams come to compete in our home waters of Le Havre. Of course, it might be to our advantage, but we are very proud of this place and the people who support us. A great place to start the new season."

Principal Race Officer, David Campbell-James (GBR), will lead the race committee on the water and looks forward to the challenges that will be presented by both the weather and the seven meter tides that occur in the race area. "This will be a challenging event with strong winds forecast for the first few days followed by a few days of light and shifty breeze. I am confident that the local race committee team will be able to handle the conditions."

The Normandie Match Cup is raced in the Beneteau First Class 7.5 boats and the first day of racing is June 7th with the first race planned for 09.00 am local time. The first two race days will see a double round robin and the top team will advance directly to the semi-final stage while the next seven fight in the quarter-final knockout stage for a chance to move join the round robin winner in the semi-finals on Sunday. The final and petite final will be raced on Monday June 10th.

www.wimseries.com

Teams Competing in the 2019 Normandie Match Cup:

Match in Pink by Normandy Elite Team
Pauline Courtois, Maëlenn Lemaître, Louise Acker, Sophie Faguet France
Current World Sailing Ranking: 1

WINGS
Anna Östling, Annie Wennergren, Linnea Wennergren, Annika Carlunger Sweden
Current World Sailing Ranking: 3

L2 Match Racing Team
Marinella Laaksonen, Sofia Tynkkynen, Camilla Cedercreutz, Anna Savisaari Finland
Current World Sailing Ranking: 5

Matchmoiselles by Normandy Elite Team
Margot Vennin, Juliette Dubreuil, Chloé Salou, Sophonie Affagard France
Current World Sailing Ranking: 7

APCC Women Sailing Team
Margot Riou, Clémentine Hilaire, Tiphaine Ragueneau, Blandine Jaffrain France
Current World Sailing Ranking: 11

Team Marie
Marie Björling Duell, Anna Holmdahl White, Elisabeth Nilsson, Anna Nordlander Sweden
Current World Sailing Ranking: 36

No Name Sailing Team
Chloé Le Bars, Jeanne Le Goff, Eliette Ferronnière, Maïwenn Deffontaines France
Current World Sailing Ranking: 93

Team Kattnakken
Lea Richter Vogelius, Sille Christensen, Vivi Møller, Joan Wester Hansen Denmark
Current World Sailing Ranking: unranked