The Lysekil Women’s Match 2011 is all set to start on the 1st August and will run through to the 6th August in Lysekil, Sweden. The sailor in the number two spot in the world, Nicky Souter of Australia will be competing in the event.

With women’s match racing as a new discipline at the 2012 Olympic Games in London, the regattas in Lysekil, Sweden are hotter than ever. The first week of August, nine of the world’s elite women match racers will battle for 33 000 Euro prize money at the sixth edition of the Grade 1 competition Lysekil Women’s Match. The event is the world’s biggest competition in women’s match racing, considering the large number of spectators, media and prize money.

Reigning world number two, Australian Nicky Souter, is one of the nine strong field of female skippers to compete at Lysekil Women’s Match 2011. Furthermore on the start list there are teams from Sweden, Denmark, France, Italy and USA. In 2009 this Grade 1 competition held the ISAF women’s match racing World Championships and Souter took gold.

’I remember how exciting it was sailing around the rocks with all the spectators. It’s really encouraging and motivates you to win! It was such a great feeling in 2009 sailing around seeing yourself on the big screen TV on the rocks, hearing what you’re saying to the crew and the crowd cheering. Such a great atmosphere!’ recalled Nicky Souter, who is looking forward to defending her title at Lysekil Women’s Match.

Two Swedish teams are defending the local flag. Linda Rahm and her team have a long experience in match racing, and has earlier been ranked world number two. With two previous victories in Lysekil she knows the local waters well and is a contender to watch out for. Caroline Sylvan is a young and motivated newcomer on the Swedish match racing scene and is expected to surprise the established elite.

Nine skippers to Lysekil Women’s Match 2011:

Nicky Souter AUS
Camilla Ulrikkeholm DEN
Trine Julie Abrahamsen DEN
Silvia Roca Mata ESP
Anne-Claire Le Berre FRA
Cristiana Monina ITA
Linda Rahm SWE
Caroline Sylvan SWE
Stephanie Roble USA

Lysekil Women’s Match is with a 300 000 SEK/33 000 Euro prize purse, the world’s biggest competition in women’s match racing, considering the large number of spectators, media and prize money.

Nine of the world elite in women’s match racing compete in the sixth edition of Lysekil Women’s Match, organised by Sailnet Lysekil AB together with the local yacht club: Lysekils SS Gullmar (LSSG).

Lysekil Womens Match website: www.lysekilwomensmatch.se

(Written by Anna Holmdahl White - Sailnet Lysekil AB)