(From the Skandia Team GBR web site: www.skandiateamgbr.com)

Women’s Match Racing teams looking to represent Great Britain at this year’s international Olympic Classes Regattas are now invited to enter the RYA Women’s Match Racing National Qualification Series.

Seven qualifiers will take place between March and October with grant-aided places at stake for this spring’s Palma, Hyeres, Kiel, Holland regattas as well as September’s Skandia Sail for Gold event, Sail Melbourne in December and the 2010 Rolex Miami regatta.

It is proposed that the first three qualifiers will be raced in the RYA’s fleet of J80s with July’s qualifier four at the Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy (WPNSA) set to see the introduction of Elliot 6m boats, the chosen equipment for the 2012 Olympic Games.

Following its ratification as a 2012 event, Women’s Match Racing enjoyed its first outing as an Olympic Class at last month’s Miami regatta with Britain’s Lucy Macgregor, Annie Lush and Ally Martin claiming an impressive bronze medal.

Meanwhile, expressions of interest in being part of the Skandia Team GBR Women’s Match Racing Academy, working towards the London 2012 Olympics, are also still being welcomed.

Full entry details and provisional notice of race for the RYA Women’s Match Racing National Qualification Series and the Academy expression of interest form are all available to view and download at www.skandiateamgbr.com/crew/Pages/WomensMatchRacing.aspx

Meanwhile, for details of which qualifier is relevant to which Olympic Classes Regatta(s) download the 2009 Skandia Team GBR Olympic Classes Handbook from www.skandiateamgbr.com/crew/Pages/olympicclasseshandbook.aspx

RYA Women’s Match Racing National Qualification Series dates:

Qualifier 1 – 7 - 8 March – Queen Mary SC (QMSC)

Qualifier 2 – 28 - 29 March – QMSC

Qualifier 3 – 9 - 10 May – QMSC

Qualifier 4 – 17 – 19 July – WPNSA

Qualifier 5 – 5 – 8 September – WPNSA

Qualifier 6 – 3 – 4 October – WPNSA

Qualifier 7 – 17 – 18 October - WPNSA