Gothenburg Announced As 2012 ISAF Women’s Match Racing Worlds Venue

Gothenburg, Sweden will host the 14th edition of the ISAF Women’s Match Racing World Championship from 25-30 June 2012.

Hosted by the Royal Gothenburg Yacht Club (GKSS) the 16 teams will sail the Elliott 6m keelboat, the equipment being used for Women’s Match Racing at the London 2012 Olympic Sailing Competition.

With London 2012 qualification places decided at the Perth 2011 ISAF Sailing World Championships in December and in Miami in February, the ISAF Women’s Match Racing Worlds will provide an opportunity for teams to finalise their preparations for the Olympic Sailing Competition.

ISAF Competitions Manager Antonio Gonzalez de la Madrid said, "Gothenburg has a great history of hosting major international events and we are confident that they will deliver a wonderful regatta ahead of London 2012 Olympic Sailing Competition.

"It will be one of the final chances the sailors will get to face each other before London 2012 making for an exciting spectacle."

Established in 1860, the GKSS hosted its first international regatta in 1910 with 116 yachts representing Sweden, Norway, Germany, Denmark, Finland and Great Britain. And with Gothenburg welcoming more recent events such as Volvo Ocean Race stopovers, the Stena Match Cup Sweden and the Dragon Gold Cup they are well equipped to host major international regattas.

For competitors and officials having participated in Kieler-Woche, the final ISAF Sailing World Cup Regatta, transport will be provided from Kiel to Gothenburg free of charge.

The ISAF Women’s Match Racing Worlds has been held every year since 1999 with the most recent event in 2010 being hosted by the New York Yacht Club in the USA. For 2011 the champion will be decided at the Perth 2011 ISAF Sailing World Championships, the principal qualification event for the 2012 London Olympic Games where women’s match racing will make its Olympic debut.

ISAF Women’s Match Racing World Championship microsite - www.sailing.org/womensmatchworlds.php