Second victory for Camilla Ulrikkeholm in Lysekil
– defeated Swiss rookie Alexa Bezel in exciting final
Titleholder Camilla Ulrikkeholm from Denmark did it again. After exciting races in Saturday’s perfect conditions in Lysekil Women’s Match, she secured her victory through 2 – 0 against Alexa Bezel in the final. However, the result doesn’t show how tough competition the Swiss rookie put up.
– No, we had a really good fight against Alexa, she sailed very well. But we won, and now it feels extremely good, a very happy Camilla Ulrikkeholm says, after receiving massive ovations from the spectators in the natural arena of the Lysekil waters.
– I think we have surprised ourselves a little with this result, a not so disappointed Alexa admits. This was our first big event, so we didn’t know what to expect. Of course we’re sorry for losing the final, but we have to think that we won second prize.
For home sailor Marie Björling Duell from the Royal Gothenburg Yacht Club, Dutch Mandy Mulder was too hard to beat in the match for third place. In an intense sequence before the start, Mulder managed to push the Swede over the line too early. When Marie then had to turn back and restart, the match was already gone for her.
– To end up fourth never feels really good, but at least we gave Camilla a fight about the final slot, Marie says, talking about the semi-final that needed five matches before the Dane could become a finalist in the event.
Even tougher was the semi-final between Bezel and Mulder, which went to six matches. That was because the Dutch began with a loud crash into the side of Bezel’s boat, already in the first match. The umpires then penalized Mulder twice, and also deducted one point for not trying enough to avoid the collision.
When Camilla Ulrikkeholm is summing up her Lysekil week, she thinks it went harder and harder through the week, as the other competitors learned the boat, the DS 37, that she is sailing daily at her home waters in Skovshoved, Denmark.
– Our boathandling was better all the time, but the others got closer. And when we didn’t manage the tactics fully it got more difficult to keep them behind, she analyses.
– We miss a good sparring partner at home, so we have to practise a lot alone. The guys don’t want to race against us any longer, because we beat them all the time, she laughs.
Marie Björling Duell has been away from the match-racing scene for three years, and sparkles after her comeback.
– It’s really fun to be back, and I’m very thankful to my family for admitting me to do this, the mother of four says, mentioning that there is a regatta in Denmark within a few weeks…
Final result in Lysekil Women’s Match 2012. Place/name/nationality/prize money:
1. Camilla Ulrikkeholm, DEN, 100 000 SEK
2. Alexa Bezel, SUI, 47 000 SEK
3. Mandy Mulder, NED, 39 000 SEK
4. Marie Björling Duell, SWE, 31 000 SEK
5. Caroline Sylvan, SWE, 27 000 SEK
6. Sally Barkow, USA, 24 000 SEK
7. Silvia Roca Mata, ESP, 19 000 SEK
8. Petra Kliba, CRO, 13 000 SEK
9. Anna Kjellgren, SWE, 0 SEK
Results in the semi-finals of Lysekil Women’s Match 2012:
Marie Björling Duell, SWE – Camilla Ulrikkeholm, DEN 2 – 3
Mandy Mulder, NED – Alexa Bezel, SUI 2 – 3
Lysekil Women’s Match is with a 300 000 SEK (45 000 USD) prize purse the largest yearly event for women match racing sailors, concerning the mix of spectators, publicity and prize money. In match racing the crews meet two by two in exciting duels that can easily be followed and understood by the spectators.
Ten of the world’s leading women match racing sailors participates in the seventh issue of Lysekil Women’s Match, August 6-11 2012, arranged by Sailnet Lysekil AB in cooperation with Lysekils SS Gullmar.
Main sponsor for Lysekil Women’s Match is Preem. Midroc, Phonera, Musto, Svitzer and Liros are partners, and the municipality of Lysekil host city.
For more information including news and photos:
www.lysekilwomensmatch.se
www.facebook.com/lysekilwomensmatch
