THE ISAF WORLD MATCH RACING RANKINGS- Women’s Rankings
Issue Date - 21 Mar 2007 (ISAF - http://www.sailing.org/matchrace/mrranking.asp)

France stay on top in the latest release of the ISAF World Match Race Rankings on 21 March, with both Sébastien COL (FRA) and Claire LEROY (FRA) holding on to their world #1 spots. However, COL is coming under increasing pressure from Ian WILLIAMS (GBR), who is aiming to become the first ever British world #1 on the Open Rankings.

ISAF World Match Race Rankings - Women
Claire LEROY’s (FRA) reign at the top of the Women’s Rankings continues, with the French skipper completing her 18th consecutive release in the world #1 spot. LEROY was in actio n in February at the ISAF Grade 2 Women’s Final of the JPMorgan Asset Management Winter Challenge, although she suffered a shock defeat in the final to the Finnish team led by 21 year old Silja LEHTINEN. After breezing through the round robin and brushing aside world #2 Lotte MELDGAARD PEDERSEN (DEN) in the semis, LEROY suddenly found herself on the wrong end of a 3-0 whitewash in the final.

LEHTINEN’s win, her first on the ISAF Graded circuit outside of Finland, propels her up into the elite world top 10, climbing five places from #15. Jenny AXHEDE (SWE), another of the Winter Challenge semi-finalists, also moves up, gaining two places from #9 to #7.

Four-time consecutive A ustralian Champion Nicky SOUTER (AUS) is the other major climber in the world top 20, with the 22 year old gaining two places up to #12 after her win at the ISAF Grade 2 Harken Women’s International in Sydney.

High Climbers And New Entries

Further back, Maria RAMIRES (POR) gains 20 places to move up to #35 after victory at the ISAF Grade 3 Baia de Monte Gordo Women’s Match. RAMIRES is now Portugal’s top Ranked skipper, whilst the losing finalist in Portugal, Catarina CARVALHO (POR) jumps straight in to the Rankings at #88.

Amanda SCRIVENOR (AUS) is the highest of 11 new entries in this release, joining the Rankings at #59 after winning the ISAF Grade 4 Marinassess W omen’s Match and finishing fifth at the Harken International.

The next Rankings release will be on 9 May 2007 following on from the ISAF Grade 1 Women’s International Criterium in Spain. Ranking Skipper Nation Previous
Ranking Events Points
1 Claire LEROY FRA 1 8 10731
2 Lotte MELDGAARED PEDERSEN DEN 2 8 9571
3 Klaartje ZUIDERBAAN NED 3 8 8686
4 Silke HAHLBROCK GER 4 8 8286
5 Marie BJORLING SWE 5 8 8211
6 Katie SPITHILL AUS 6 8 7858
7 Jenny AXHEDE SWE 9 8 7516
8 Linda RAHM SWE 7 8 7455
9 Josie GIBSON GBR 8 8 7217
10 Silja LEHTINEN FIN 15 8 7209
11 Christelle PHILIPPE FRA 10 8 6976
12 Nicky SOUTER AUS 14 7 6732
13 Gemma FARRELL GBR 12 6 6638
14 Nina BRAESTRUP DEN 11 8 6599
15 Malin MILLBOURN SWE 13 8 6427
16 Jessica SMYTH NZL 17 7 6204
17 Annie-Claire LE BERRE FRA 16 6 6093
18 Camilla ULRIKKEHOLM DEN 19 8 5933
19 Delphine CASAS FRA 18 7 5855
20 Sabrina GURIOLI ITA 21 4 5764
21 Sally BARKOW USA 22 6 5542
22 Sandy HAYES USA 20 8 5518
23 Malin KALLSTROM SWE 23 8 5424
24 Katy LOVELL USA 24 7 4991
25 Lorenza MARIANI ITA 25 8 4853
26 Martina KARLEMO FIN 26 8 4600
27 Liz BAYLIS USA 27 5 4599
28 Giulia CONTI ITA 28 4 4453
29 Betsy ALISON USA 29 5 4402
30 Mary O`LOUGHLIN IRL 30 4 4214
31 Susanne WARD DEN 31 4 4121
32 Suzanne WILLIM GER 32 6 4086
33 Ulrike FIRK GER 33 8 3945
34 Paula LEWIN BER 34 4 3692
35 Maria RAMIRES POR 55 5 3370
36 Maja CZARNIAWSKA POL 35 7 3260
37 Mikaela FORS FIN 36 8 2979
38 Charlotta THORELIUS SWE 38 6 2766
39 Ulrike SCHUEMANN GER 39 3 2746
40 Anna TUNNICLIFFE USA 40 2 2656
41 Maija SAIJONMAA FIN 41 8 2625
42 Samantha BOYD AUS 37 6 2505
43 Anna KJELLBERG SWE 43 5 2466
44 Rita GONCALVES POR 44 3 2435
45 Malin SVEDMYR SWE 45 6 2422
46 Lucinda WHITTY AUS 56 5 2421
47 Anna KJELLGREN SWE 50 7 2340
48 Dorte O. JENSEN DEN 46 1 2331
49 Nina CURTIS AUS 53 4 2322
50 Meghan ANDREW AUS 141 4 2263