The Women’s Match Race Golfe du Morbihan, the second stage of the 2014 Women’s International Match Racing Series (WIM Series), started Wednesday with a practise session followed by the official opening ceremony in Vannes.
Camilla Ulrikkeholm came in late due to a delayed air flight, but managed to get an hour on the water with her team in a Beneteau 7.5: “my first impression is that we will have to focus on speed if the light winds prevail when racing begins Thursday, because the boat has a rather small sail area compared to its size and weight” Ulrikkeholm reflects.
The Danish world #1 leads one of a dozen teams from eight countries in the Women’s Match Race Golfe du Morbihan, where the Beneteau 7.5 makes its debut on the WIM Series. Ulrikkeholm also considers the asymmetrical spinnaker a game changer in match racing, compared to the more ordinary symmetrical one: “it’ll be tougher to come from behind and roll your opponent on the downwinds, when the angles are so different” she said after the training.”
The French event on the 2014 WIM Series was initiated and is organised by double World Champion and multiple world ranking #1 Claire Leroy, who was happy to welcome so many young and upcoming sailors in Vannes: “it’s really good to see that there is great regrowth in women’s match racing, it seems promising for the future” she said.
Skippers in Women’s Match Race Golfe du Morbihan, the second stage of the 2014 WIM Series (name/nationality/ISAF world ranking):
Camilla Ulrikkeholm, DEN, 1
Anna Kjellberg, SWE, 2
Caroline Sylvan, SWE, 8
Anne-Claire Le Berre, FRA, 9
Claudia Pierce, NZL, 12
Klaartje Zuiderbaan, NED, 14
Pauline Courtois, FRA, 30
Morgane Fountaine, FRA, 37
Lucie Scheiwiller, FRA, 44
Anastasia Guseva, RUS, 51
Rajaa Al Owaisi, OMA, 154
