French Skipper Anne-Claire Le Berre undefeated in Lysekil Women’s Match
– Lucy Macgregor of Great Britain close behind
She hasn’t raced at all since the Match Racing World Championships in Sweden last year, but the absence has obviously not affected her skills. After the first day of round-robin in Lysekil Women’s Match, French skipper Anne-Claire Le Berre has won as many matches as sailed, four, and is on top of the score board:
“It’s our third time in Lysekil Women’s Match and we really like the waters and the racing in the big DS 37s. We feel no pressure at all, but lots of fun” she comments.
Like most of the other sailors Le Berre thought that Tuesday’s conditions in Lysekil, including shifty winds around and well over 20 knots, were demanding and exhausting for the muscles as well as for the brain:
“We had a hard time with the manoeuvres today, but my crew did an excellent job” she praises.
Russian Ekaterina Skudina also complimented her crew, working very well together though four nationalities (three Russians, one Slovenian, one Danish and one Swede) onboard:
“Our communication was a key today, even as I had to translate some of the English to my Russian crew members” says Skudina, who in her latest regatta, the Match Racing World Championships in Korea in June, just missed the podium.
“We improved a lot during the day, and I think we were sailing especially fast downwind”.
Local sailors Anna Kjellberg, Caroline Sylvan and Johanna Larsson are sharing fifth place after having each won two and lost two matches. Larsson was the talk of the day, after beating former team helmsman Kjellberg, as well as the Women’s International Match Racing Series leader, Lucy Macgregor of Great Britain:
“It was a good start to beat Lucy, we had a good flow in the beginning of the day” Larsson smiled.
Lucy Macgregor only lost the match against Johanna Larsson and is now just trailing leading Le Berre with a 4 – 1 record after day one of the regatta:
“It was a tough day, but very enjoyable in the breeze. I’m really tired, but my crew is probably even more exhausted” says Lucy, hopeful for the rest of the week.
“You win some and you lose some, and it’s still early days”
Lysekil Women’s Match continues Wednesday and Thursday with the double round-robin, going into the quarterfinals Thursday afternoon and Friday morning. Semi finals will be sailed Friday afternoon and Saturday morning, and by Saturday afternoon time has come for the great finale. Not only the winner of Lysekil Women’s Match will be crowned, but also the first champion of the inaugural Women’s International Match Racing Series. A 100 000 dollar total prize purse will be distributed!
Standings in Lysekil Women’s Match 2013 after one day of round-robin. Skipper, nationality, won/lost matches:
1. Anne-Claire Le Berre, FRA, 4 – 0
2. Lucy Macgregor, GBR, 4 – 1
3. Camilla Ulrikkeholm, DEN, 2 – 1
4. Ekaterina Skudina, RUS, 3 – 2
5. Johanna Larsson, SWE, 2 – 2
5. Anna Kjellberg, SWE, 2 – 2
5. Caroline Sylvan, SWE, 2 – 2
8. Claire Leroy, FRA, 1 – 2
8. Claudia Pierce, NZL, 1 - 2
10. Alexa Bezel, SUI, 0 – 3
11. Anna Kjellgren, SWE, 0 – 4
Standings in the 2013 Women’s International Match Racing Series after four events, in France, Korea, Denmark and USA (skipper/nationality/WIMRS points). Macgregor, Kjellberg and Ulrikkeholm are fighting for the inaugural WIMR Series trophy, the Terry J Kohler Perpetual Trophy:
1. Lucy Macgregor, GBR, 66
2. Anna Kjellberg, SWE, 61
3. Stephanie Roble, USA, 47
4. Lotte Meldgaard Pedersen, DEN, 44
4. Camilla Ulrikkeholm, DEN, 44
6. Caroline Sylvan, SWE, 26
7. Tamara Echegoyen, ESP, 25
7. Klaartje Zuiderbaan, NED, 25
7. Claudia Pierce, NZL, 25
10. Julie Bossard, FRA, 22
11. Katie Spithill, AUS, 19
12. Alexa Bezel, SUI, 17
13. Merel Witteveen, NED, 15
13. Ekaterina Skudina, RUS, 15
15. Nicole Breault, USA, 10
16. Susannah Pyatt, NZL, 9
17. Milly Bennett, AUS, 8
18. Anna Kjellgren, SWE, 7
19. Madeline Gill, USA, 6
20. Anne Marit Hansen, NOR, 4
20. Sung-Eun Choi, KOR, 4
20. Morgane Dréau, FRA, 4
The inaugural 2013 Women’s International Match Racing Series is a professional sailing circuit, hosted by the Women’s International Match Racing Association for the world’s leading women match racing sailors. In match racing the crews meet one on one in exciting duels that can easily be followed and understood by the spectators.
An overall prize purse of 50 000 USD, as well as the Terry J Kohler perpetual trophy, will be distributed by the WIMR Series at the final event in Lysekil, Sweden, in addition to the prize money at each of the five events included in the WIMR Series (date, event name, location, boat type):
* May 15-19 – Saint Quay Women’s Match Racing – St Quay-Portrieux, France – Elliott 6m.
* June 5-9 – Busan Cup International Women’s Match Race – Busan, Korea – K 30.
* June 20-23 – Danish Open Ladies Cup – Copenhagen, Denmark – J/80.
* July 11-14 – New York Women’s Invitational – Oakcliff, New York, USA – SM 40.
* August 5-10 – Lysekil Women’s Match – Lysekil, Sweden – DS 37.
Lysekil Women’s Match is with a 300 000 SEK (50 000 USD) prize purse the largest yearly event for women match racing sailors, concerning the mix of spectators, publicity and prize money. The world’s leading women match racing sailors participate in the eighth issue of Lysekil Women’s Match, August 5–10 2013, arranged by Sailnet Lysekil AB in cooperation with Lysekils SS Gullmar. Main sponsor for Lysekil Women’s Match is Preem and Thun Tankers, with the municipality of Lysekil as host city.
Images: A number of hi-res images are available for download on http://www.wimrs.com/media/photo-galleries/lysekil-womens-match-photo-gallery/ or on http://www.lysekilwomensmatch.com/#!/press/pressbilder-2
More information about the Women’s International Match Racing Series:
www.wimrs.com
www.facebook.com/WIMRSeries
Twitter: @WIMRSeries #WIMRS
More information about Lysekil Women’s Match:
www.lysekilwomensmatch.se
www.facebook.com/lysekilwomensmatch
Twitter: @LWMLYSEKIL #LWM2013
Instagram: @LWMLYSEKIL #LWM2013
