(From the ISAF web site: www.sailing.org)

ISAF Women’s Match Racing World Championship 2009 - Lysekil, Sweden

The 12 top skippers in the world have been invited to the 2009 ISAF Women’s Match Racing World Championship in Lysekil, Sweden held during Lysekil Women’s Match from 27 July-1 August.

With women’s match racing on the Olympic programme for the first time at the London Games in 2012, the World Championships this summer in Lysekil, on the west coast of Sweden, will be a key event in the sailing world. The world’s top teams will battle for the World Champion title and the biggest prize money in women’s match racing, 50,000 Euro, during the fifth edition of Lysekil Women’s Match, previously a world cup race.

Today, the invites to the prestigious event will be sent out to the top 12 teams in the world. The skippers will be invited according to the ISAF World Match Race Ranking list, which was updated yesterday, 4 March. The reigning World Champion and #1 on the ISAF World Match Race Ranking list, Claire LEROY (FRA), will be invited along with the 10 following skippers on the ranking list. The last spot will be awarded by the Swedish Sailing Federation and the organizing yacht club Lysekil Yacht Club Gullmar.

French skipper LEROY and her Team Ideactor will be defending the World Champion title for the second time in a row. Sweden’s Linda RAHM is ranked second in the world and is familiar with her home waters. She will also gain confidence from her victory at last year’s Lysekil Women’s Match.

Britain’s Lucy MACGREGOR, is definitely the top rookie among the invited skippers. MACGREGOR, previously a crew member on several successful teams, has as skipper climbed the ranking list at impressive speed and is now placed third on the World Ranking. MACGREGOR will be a name to watch out for, especially with the goals of representing her nation on home waters at the 2012 London Olympic Games in mind.

ISAF Women’s Match Racing World Championship 2009 - Lysekil Women’s Match
Invited skippers

1. Claire LEROY (FRA)
2. Linda RAHM (SWE)
3. Lucy MACGREGOR (GBR)
4. Lotte MELDGAARD PEDERSEN (DEN)
5. Silke HAHLBROCK (GER)
6. Elizabeth BAYLIS (USA)
7. Katie SPITHILL (AUS)
8. Sabrina GURIOLI (ITA)
9. Sally BARKOW (USA)
10. Nicole SOUTER (AUS)
11. Anna KJELLBERG (SWE)
Plus one wild card to be confirmed

Lysekil Women’s Match - www.lysekilwomensmatch.se

All the latest details on the 2009 Worlds, together with a full archive of results from previous championships is available on the ISAF Women’s Match Racing World Championship microsite at www.sailing.org/wmatchworlds.