Fog and no wind delays Sheboygan quarters
– the penultimate event of the 2015 WIM Series resumes Saturday
The first two days of excellent sailing conditions in the Buddy Melges Challenge on Lake Michigan, USA, was on Friday followed by nothing but the opposite. Thick fog rolled in over the Sheboygan race course, effectively killing not only the wind, but every attempt to get any racing going. After several hours of fruitless waiting both ashore and on the water, Principal Race Officer Rich Reichelsdorfer saw no other way out, than to postpone all racing until Saturday:
“We plan to stick to the program as best as we can, but may need to make adjustments throughout the day tomorrow. We hope to conclude the semis Saturday and decide the final matches on Sunday, as the forecast is for the light air to come back” he explains his plan.
Thunderstorms passed through the Sheboygan racing area during the night between Thursday and Friday, and the strong southerly wind that was so reliable for the beginning of the Buddy Melges Challenge, was nowhere to be seen Friday morning. When the fog settled in mid-morning, sailors were told to stay ashore. At around 14.00 the breeze filled in from the north and pushed the fog away, so the quarterfinal crews left the dock. But even before the boats managed to reach the racing area, the wind had already begun to die again. Then the thick fog rolled back in, but the wind never did. The AP over A signal was hoisted at 15.45, signalling that the racing was postponed for the day.
Quarterfinal pairings in the 2015 Buddy Melges Challenge, the third stage of the 2015 WIM Series:
Anna Östling, SWE – Juliana Senfft, BRA
Renée Groeneveld, NED – Caroline Sylvan, SWE
Stephanie Roble, USA – Pauline Courtois, FRA
Camilla Ulrikkeholm Klinkby, DEN – Anne-Claire Le Berre, FRA
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The Women’s International Match Racing Series (WIM Series) is the first and only professional sailing series for women, hosted by the Women’s International Match Racing Association and joined by the world’s leading women match racing sailors. Match racing is sailed in two identical boats around a short course, providing fast action close to the crowds on shore. The intense racing is just as exciting for the spectators as it is strategically, tactically and physically challenging for the competing crews.
An overall prize purse of 40 000 USD will be distributed by the WIM Series at the final event in Busan, Korea, in addition to the prize money at each of the four events included in the 2015 WIM Series (date, event name, location, boat type):
- July 8 – 12, ISAF Women’s Match Racing World Championship, Middelfart, Denmark, Match 28.
- August 3 – 8, Lysekil Women’s Match, Lysekil, Sweden, DS 37.
- September 16 – 20, Buddy Melges Challenge, Sheboygan, USA, Elliott 6.
- October 28 – November 1, Busan Cup Women’s International Match Race, Busan, Korea, K30.
The WIM Series is hosted by WIMRA. Official suppliers are Sailnet, 1080 Media, MILK, Sailing Education Association of Sheboygan, Adstream and Match Racing Results Service.
Images: A number of hi-res images are available for download on www.wimseries.com/media/
More information about the Women’s International Match Racing Series:
WIM Series Press Officer Joakim Hermansson, media@wimseries.com, +46 70 604 25 04
WIM Series Manager Liz Baylis, Liz@wimseries.com, +1 415 691 6202
www.wimseries.com
www.facebook.com/WIMSeries
www.twitter.com/WIMSeries
www.youtube.com/WIMRSeries
www.instagram.com/WIMSeries
The Buddy Melges Challenge has been an ISAF Grade One match racing event in Sheboygan for a number of years. The event is named after the famous Olympian, America’s Cup sailor, boat builder, and Wisconsinite Buddy Melges, whose contributions to the sport have been long standing. The trophy for the event resides in the Sheboygan Yacht Club and is a replica of the America’s Cup.
More information about the Buddy Melges Challenge:
Press Officer Matt Wierzbach, mattw@seasheboygan.org, +1 920 918 9204
www.sailsheboygan.org
www.seasheboygan.org
www.sheboyganyachtclub.com
www.facebook.com/SailSheboygan
www.twitter.com/USSCSheboygan
