ISAF World Match Race Rankings - Women
Rankings Released 1 February 2007
(From the ISAF Website - www.sailing.org)

Claire LEROY (FRA) remains way out ahead of the rest of the women’s match racing world and, with a 1,000+ point lead, looks odds on to make it two unbroken years in the world #1 spot. Meanwhile the continued popularity of women’s match racing is demonstrated as the Women’s ISAF World Match Race Rankings grows to hit the 200 skipper mark.

LEROY has headed up the Women’s Rankings since 4 May 2005, and with a lead over second place of 1,160 points, she looks all set to hold the top spot for a good deal longer. Behind the French skipper the rest of the world top 10 remains unchanged, leaving Lotte MELDGAARD PEDERSEN (DEN) and Klaartje ZUIDERBAAN (NED) in the world #2 and #3 spots respectively.

All the significant moves in this release come following the ISAF Grade 4 Portuguese Women’s Match Racing Championship won by Maria RAMIRES (POR). She moves up from 79 to 55 in the Rankings, 11 places behind the top Ranked Portuguese skipper Rita GONCALVES.
200 Skippers

Whilst there is little movement amongst the major players in this release, the whole world of women’s match racing can celebrate the ISAF World Match Race Rankings reaching the 200 skipper mark for the first time. The number of skippers on the Women’s Rankings has grown steadily over the last few years, reflecting the appeal and accessibility of women’s match racing.

The number of ISAF Graded Women’s Match Racing events grew from 24 in 2004, to 32 in 2005 to a record 40 in 2006, and similarly the number of skippers on the World Rankings has increased from 126 in December 2003 to 151 in December 2004, 185 in December 2005 and 196 in December 2006. With the ISAF Nations Cup helping to take match racing around the globe, skippers like MELDGAARD PEDERSEN and Tiffany KOO (MAS) achieving notable scalps on the World Match Racing Tour and now 200 skippers on the World Rankings, the women’s match racing world can celebrate together and look forward with anticipation to another terrific year out on the water.