EUROSAF Match Racing, Women’s European Championship - Midway Report

The double round-robin is now complete and the semi-finalist are decided at the EUROSAF Match Racing, Women’s European Championship, being held from 11th to 15th September in Santander.

Yesterday, Thursday, saw the completion of the round-robin used to find the semi-finalist in the Women’s European Match Racing Championship. Julie Bossard from France, ranked 15th in the ISAF ranking list, crewed by the two Pauline’s, Pauline Chalaux and Pauline Courtois, won eight of her ten races to finish at the top of the leader board. Caroline Sylvan, Sweden, ranked 40th, finished second, also with eight wins, but was placed second as she was beaten by Julie Bossard in both their races. Caroline is crewed by Louise Kruuse af Verchou and Frida Langenius. Third was Silvia Roca from Spain, the highest ranked sailor at 11th, crewed by Fátima Reyes and Lucia Reyes and fourth was Claire Lasko from the United Kingdom, crewed by Marianthe Evangelidis and Sophie Pearson. Claire and her crew are new to match racing, so has no ISAF ranking, but finished a creditable fourth by beating Aleksandra Reshetova from Russia, ranked 61st, in the second round-robin.

Today, Friday, will see the semi-finals competed between Silvia Roca (ESP) and Caroline Sylvan (SWE), and Claire Lasko (GBR) and Julie Bossard (FRA), in a best of five race series. There will also be a sail-off for 5th and 6th places between Aleksandra Reshetova (RUS) and Ascension Roca (ESP).

The final and petit-final, take place on Saturday 15th September.

Conditions in Santander on Thursday were ideal for match racing, with the wind coming from the North West at about 10 -12 knots. EUROSAF Vice-President and Event Director, Rafa Gonzalez, who is overseeing the racing on behalf of the Real Club Maritimo de Santander, said “we are delighted at the way racing has progressed and are pleased to have completed the dual round-robin on schedule, so that we can move forward to the semi-finals today”.

Marco Predieri, EUROSAF President, said from his home in Italy, “women’s match racing is beginning a new phase in its development, now that it is no longer an Olympic discipline. Last year we had to have a qualification event in order to select the teams for the European Championship and this year we have had to work hard to encourage entries. Never-the-less, EUROSAF are determined this championship will remain firmly in the European calendar and we will do whatever is necessary to ensure it does. We have already agreed with the Polish Yachting Association that the event will be held in Gdynia in July next year, and we are now actively seeking hosts for 2014 and beyond.”

EUROSAF website:www.eurosaf.org

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