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

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

Swedish skipper Marie BJORLING has taken the 12th and final spot at the 2009 ISAF Women’s Match Racing World Championship in Lysekil, Sweden, this summer.

The last spot for the 2009 ISAF Women’s Match Racing World Championship, which takes place at the Lysekil Women’s Match from 27 July-1 August, was determined in a Swedish qualifier during the Nordic Women’s Match Racing Tour in Skovshoved in Denmark. The former world-ranked #1 skipper Marie BJORLING (SWE), took the spot.

BJÖRLING is one of the world’s most successful match racers. For three years she was ranked #1 on the Women’s ISAF World Match Race Ranking list. She has four World Championship silver medals and one bronze medal.

She is now a mother of three and has only just recently returned after a two-year break from match racing. The regatta last weekend was the first race BJÖRLING and her team has competed since their extended break. With many of the world’s top skippers attending, BJÖRLING took an impressive fourth place and won the Swedish qualifier for the last spot to the world championships.

“The opposition was tough with many of the top ranked skippers taking part. As it was our first regatta we are very happy with our fourth place. We see that we are close to the very best. With a bit of training we will be fit for fight for the World Championships this summer. We have a lot of experience, we work well together and are extremely motivated to sail again,” BJÖRLING.

Following its selection for the first time as an Olympic event for London 2012, women’s match racing is going through a purple patch. The top teams are closely matched and never before has the standard been as high as for the coming World Championships in Lysekil, with only the very best teams participating. With BJÖRLING’s comeback, there will be one more fierce challenger for the gold medal.

“It is really the top elite that will come to Lysekil for the World Championships this summer. The level is getting higher and higher. Everyone is working very hard for the event, especially now that match racing for women is on the Olympic programme for London 2012,” said project manager Anna HOLMDAHL WHITE, who is also part of BJÖRLING’s crew.

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

Competing skippers:

Claire LEROY (FRA) - 1
Linda RAHM (SWE) - 2
Lucy MACGREGOR (GBR) - 3
Lotte MELDGAARD PEDERSEN (DEN) - 4
Silke HAHLBROCK (GER) - 5
Sally BARKOW (USA) - 8
Katie SPITHILL (AUS) - 9
Anna KJELLBERG (SWE) - 10
Christelle PHILIPPE (FRA) - 11
Camilla ULRIKKEHOLM (DEN) - 12
Nicole SOUTER (AUS) - 15
Marie BJORLING (SWE) - 101

Lysekil Women’s Match - www.lysekilwomensmatch.se