Eurosaf Match Racing – Women’s European Championships 2011
Qualification Event 13-15 May 2011
Helsinki, Finland
 
Another breezy day kept the crews on the shore most of the day in The Open European Championships Qualification Event in Women’s Match Race in Helsinki, Finland. Wind was blowing 28-32 knots until the late afternoon. Teams got out first at 4 p.m. Audi Match Race Team Silja Lehtinen had to give up racing for the rest of the weekend as the whole team has been suffering from a flu.
 
Team China continued their impressive performance today by winning all of their matches. The most exciting moments were experienced on the finishing line as Ru Wang and Katie Spithill crossed the line side by side, Ru winning the 7th best-ranked female MR skipper in the world. Spithill lost her protest against the Race Committee.
 
The race will continue tomorrow. Strong breeze has been estimated also for tomorrow, but according to the forecast racing may continue latest during the afternoon.
 
The participants of this qualifier come from eight different countries: Silja Lehtinen (Finland), Katie Spithill (Australia), Stephanie Hazard (New Zeeland), Vesna Dekleva Paoli (Slovenia), Rita Goncalves (Portugal), Ru Wang (China), Irina Lotsmanova (Russia) and Piret Pomerants (Estonia).
 
Three best non-qualified participants of this event will get an entry for the Open European Championships that will be sailed 29 June – 3 July 2011 in Helsinki.
 
Written by Outi Merilä - Audi HSS Match Race Center​ - Helsinki, Finland