(From the ISAF website: www.sailing.org)

With the release of the ISAF World Match Race Rankings on 24 October, the top ten women skippers have been invited to compete in next year’s World Championship in Auckland.

The 2008 ISAF Women’s Match Racing World Championship will be contested in Auckland, New Zealand from 1-6 April. Fourteen skippers will battle for the World Championship Trophy.

The defending champion, Claire LEROY (FRA), receives an automatic invite to defend her title. Invitations will also be sent to the top ten skippers in the Women’s ISAF World Match Race Rankings released on 24 October. With LEROY currently occupying the world #1 spot, the world #11 spot also receives an invite.

Along with LEROY, the list of invited skippers includes two former World Champions, Sally BARKOW (USA) and Liz BAYLIS (USA), as well as three further World Championship medallists, Katie SPITHILL (AUS), Lotte MELDGAARD PEDERSEN (DEN) and Linda RAHM (SWE). The eleven skippers represent eight different nations. If an invited skipper can not attend, the invitation will be transferred to the next highest Ranked sailor from the Rankings of 24 October.

Two qualifying events – the ISAF Grade 2 CYCA Harken Women’s Match Race in Sydney and the ISAF Grade 3 New Zealand Women’s Match Racing Championships – provide further opportunities for skippers to join the elite of the women’s match racing world. In addition to this their will be one wildcard entry.

Find out more on the ISAF Women’s Match Racing World Championship at www.sailing.org/wmatchworlds.

ISAF Women’s Match Racing World Championship 2008
Skippers Invited

Claire LEROY (FRA) – defending champion
Lotte MELDGAARD PEDERSEN (DEN)
Katie SPITHILL (AUS)
Christelle PHILIPPE (FRA)
Sally BARKOW (USA)
Silke HAHLBROCK (GER)
Jenny AXHEDE (SWE)
Klaartje ZUIDERBAAN (NED)
Linda RAHM (SWE)
Liz BAYLIS (USA)
Josie GIBSON (GBR)