EUROSAF Match Racing, Women’s European Championships 2011 Qualification Event.

Australian Team Spithill (Katie Spithill, Jess Eastwell, and Lucinda Whitty) took first place in the event by winning all the matches today in medium winds. Team China with Wang Ru at the helm did not do as well as in the really strong winds the previous days. They had won all their previous races, today they easily secured their place in the European Championship. Third qualification slot went to Rita Goncalves. The team had not won a race before today but recorded 8 points in 9 matches in the lighter winds. They beat fourth placed Stephanie Hazard from New Zealand on a tie braker.

There were two unlucky teams. Local favorites Team Silja Lehtinen sailed only two matches due to a flu. Team Skudina from Russia with replacement helm Irina Lotsmanova had to pull out because a leg injury before Sunday’s racing.

Final Results:
1 Katie Spithill - Australia - 13 p ** Qualified to EC
2 Ru Wang - China - 11 p ** Qualified to EC
3 Rita Goncalves - Portugal - 8 p ** Qualified to EC
4 Stephanie Hazard - New Zealand - 8 p
5 Vesna Dekleva Paoli - Slovenia - 7 p
6 Piret Pomerants - Estonia - 3 p
7 Irina Lotsmanova - Russia - 3 p (Retired due to crew injury)
8 Silja Lehtinen 2 p (Retired due to crew illness)

Report from the HSS Match Race Center - http://www.audimatchrace.fi