A Shifty Day One in Ekaterinburg
The racing for the 2018 Women’s Match Racing World Championship got underway under cloudy skies with a light rain falling most of the day. But the dark skies did not dim the enthusiasm as the sailors and race officials hit the water and completed eight flights before joining in the Opening Ceremonies.
As the sailors returned to the dock, “shifty” was the word of the day. “The key to the day was playing the shifts, being patient, and keeping speed in the boat all of the time” said Trine Palludan, skipper of the Danish Team Kattnakken, who is undefeated and leading after day one with five wins and no losses.
The 2018 edition of the World Championship celebrates the 20th anniversary of the event. This year 45 sailors from 6 nations are taking part in this historic competition in the historic city of Ekaterinburg which is celebrating a significant 295th anniversary.
The evening was highlighted by the Opening Ceremonies. The distinguished guests included Deputy Governor of the Sverdlovsk Region Pavel Krekov, President of the Russian Yachting Federation Vladimir Silkin, Head of Administration of the city of Ekaterinburg Alexander Jacob, and a parade of the World Sailing Race Officials and World Championship athletes led by the Master of Sports of the USSR Yury Gennadyevich Blinkov on the grounds of the Gubernskiy Yacht Club – Komatek.
According to the old tradition of the Russian hospitality, the participants of the competitions in the Ural land were greeted with bread and salt.
Representing World Sailing, Match Racing Sub-Committee Chair, Liz Baylis, rang a bell and declared the event open and wished the sailors “May the best team win!” as the World Sailing flag was raised high on the flag pole.
Immediately following the event opening, the crowds witnessed another significant event – the opening of the new Gubernskiy Yacht Club – Komatek building which is lauded for helping with both the economic and sailing development in the Sverdlovsk Region.
As the sailors and guests enjoyed food and drinks in the tent, everyone was treated to an explosive fireworks display over Verkh-Isetsky pond.
The racing continues Wednesday with racing every day then the conclusion with the final and awards presentations on Saturday 18 August.
Results after day 1 of the round-robin (skipper, team name, nationality, wins – losses):
1. Trine Palludan, Team Kattnakken, DEN, 5-0
2. Lucy Macgregor, Team Mac, GBR, 4-0
3. Marinella Laaksonen, L2 Match Racing Team, FIN, 4-1
4. Pauline Courtois, Match in Pink by Normandy Elite Team, FRA, 3-1
5. Milena Laverycheva, BERGAUF Sailing Team, RUS, 3-2
6. Alexandra Martynova, BornToSail, RUS, 2-3
7. Alexa Bezel, Swiss Women Match Racing Team, SUI, 1-3
7. Margot Riou, APCC Women Sailing Team , FRA, 1-3
7. Ekaterina Kochkina, ProKaTeam Sailing Team, RUS, 1-3
10. Margot Vennin, Matchmoiselles by Normandy Elite Team, FRA, 0-4
10. Octavia Owen, Athena Racing, GBR, 0-4
~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Women’s International Match Racing Series (WIM Series) is the first and only professional sailing series for women, hosted by the Women¹s International Match Racing Association and joined by the world¹s 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.
WIM Series 2018 calendar
(Name of event, Venue, Country: dates (boat type))
Helsinki Women’s Match, Helsinki, Finland : 25 - 29 June (J/80)
Lysekil Women’s Match, Lysekil, Sweden : 6 - 11 August (Fareast 28r)
Women’s Match Racing World Championship, Ekaterinburg, Russia : 14 - 18 August (Ricochet 747)
Swiss International Women’s Match, Ascona, Switzerland : 30 October - 3 November (J/70)
Carlos Aguilar Match Race 2018, St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands : 29 November - 2 December (IC 24)
The WIM Series is hosted by WIMRA. Official suppliers are Sailnet, Fredag, MILK, Sailing Education Association of Sheboygan, Adstream, Fredag and Match Racing Results Service.
Images: A number of hi-res images are available for download on www.wimseries.com/media/
Video: All videos are available on www.wimseries.com/videos/
More information about the Women’s International Match Racing Series:
Press Officer Fabian Bengtsson, media@wimseries.com
Race Director Anna Holmdahl White, anna@wimseries.com
Race Manager Liz Baylis, Liz@wimseries.com
www.wimseries.com
www.facebook.com/WIMSeries
www.twitter.com/WIMSeries
www.youtube.com/WIMRSeries
www.instagram.com/WIMSeries
~~~~~
The 2018 Women’s Match Racing World Championship is taking place in Ekaterinburg, Russia. Ekaterinburg is the third largest Russian city, the capital of Ural, the candidate to hold the EXPO-2025. The city is developing rapidly. «Gubernskiy yacht-club “Komatek”» is a shining example of positive changes in the city’s infrastructure. The opening of the brand new building of the club is held in conjunction with Women’s Match Racing World Championship and with city’s 295 anniversary.
The event partners are: Turkish Airlines, Building materials company «Bergauf», New Radio 90,8 fm, the President of the Sverdlovsk Fund of the RCSaD, Alexander Serebrennikov, with support of Ministry of Physical Culture & Sport of the Sverdlovsk region, Center of the Sporting Events – GAUSO “CSM”, Regional Social Organization «Olympic Union of Sverdlovsk Region» and the City of Ekaterinburg.
More information about the 2018 Women’s Match Racing World Championship:
Local Press Officer Yana Maltseva, maltseva75@mail.ru, +7 (912) 286-58-46
2018wmrwc.komatek-club.ru/
www.facebook.com/gubernskiy.yacht.club.komatek
~~~~~
The World Sailing Women’s Match Racing World Championship is an annual event that was first held in Genoa, Italy in 1999, after a successful event was held as part of the 1998 ISAF Sailing World Championship in Dubai, UAE. Skippers are invited to attend the Championship based on their World Sailing Match Racing Ranking position. Denmark’s Dorte Jensen is the most successful sailor, having amassed four World Championship titles.
More information about World Sailing and the Women’s Match Racing World Championship:
World Sailing Communications Department, marketing@sailing.org, + 44 2380 635 111
www.sailing.org/events/womensmatchworlds/index.php
