Press Release, 30 March 2010

Lysekil Women’s Match musters strength for 2011!

Lysekil Women’s Match, which since its inception in 2004 has been the world’s leading women’s match race, is taking a break in 2010. Instead work will now commence on the event in 2011 and onwards.

The race has developed strongly since it began in 2004. Proof of this is the World Championship status it gained in 2009. For Lysekil Women’s Match to carry on developing, the necessary sporting and commercial conditions need to be secured in plenty of time.

The organiser has noted that not everything is in place for a competition in 2010, and has therefore decided to stop the event for a year and begin a long-term process ahead of the 2011 event and beyond.

Lysekil Women’s Match promoter and Project Manager Anna Holmdahl White comments:
“I very much look forward to continuing to work with Lysekil Women’s Match in close co-operation with Preem, the Municipality of Lysekil and Lysekil Yacht Club Gullmar, which organises the sailing.”

Oil company Preem has been a main sponsor of the races since the start, and is strongly committed to developing the event. Stig Nilsson, Project Manager at Preem, says:
“We have been delighted with our involvement to date. We are a major player in Lysekil and can see both a local and a commercial value in our sponsorship. We remain positive towards continuing discussions regarding future years.”

Lysekil, Sweden, August 1, 2009.
 

Australian Nicole Souter Takes Gold in Women’s Match Racing 2009

- Sensational racing with two podium finishes for Sweden

The last day of the ISAF Women’s Match Racing World Championship 2009 was full of surprises. The big sensation of the day was Australian Nicole Souter’s impressive dominance, beating the former World Champion Claire Leroy in the semi finals and taking three straight victories against Marie Björling of Sweden in the final. Swedish Anna Kjellberg beat Claire Leroy in the battle for third in two straight victories.
 
The ISAF Women’s Match Racing World Championship 2009 was concluded in perfect conditions today in Lysekil, off the west coast of Sweden. With clear blue skies and a nice breeze of 15 knots of wind, the many spectators witnessed outstanding racing with tough tacking duels and excellent boat handling in the intense matches between the world’s best skippers.
 
The young Australian Nicole Souter surprised the crowd when starting the day by winning three out of four semi final races against the hard beat Claire Leroy of France, and then beating veteran Marie Björling of Sweden in three straight wins in the final. Souter, ranked eighth on the ISAF women’s match racing world ranking list, sailed perfectly all day, sticking every manoeuvre and taking all the right tactical decisions. The 25-year old Australian has already competed in three previous World Championships but never finished on the podium. She has never competed in Lysekil before and did definitely not belong to the favourites of the regatta.
 
- Our expectations were quite low coming here. We have very little experience in this boat and we would be more than happy making it to the top six. When we then made it to the semi finals, meeting Claire Leroy, all the odds were against us. We were not nervous and sailed without pressure, said an elated Nicole Souter, World Champion 2009. Souter’s main goal after the World Championship is training towards the Olympics 2012 in a serious campaign together with her fellow competitor Katie Spithill.
 
Wild card and underdog, Marie Björling of Sweden, has had a two-year break and no one really expected her to make such a stable performance. But Björling has a long experience of match racing, with four previous silver medals and topping the world ranking lists for a long time.
 
- We are of course disappointed after loosing the final but we are still very happy with our performance. We started sailing again in May after a two-year brake. With that short training time and the fact that the competition was tougher than ever this year we are even prouder, said Marie Björling, who will shoot up the world ranking list after her impressive achievement (now ranked 43!).
 
One of the day’s many surprises was not seeing the former World Champion and number one Claire Leroy on the podium. Leroy had the best result in the first round robin but finished fourth after Anna Kjellberg of Sweden beat her in two straight victories in the fight for third.
 
The 50 000 Euro prize purse will be distributed tonight at the prize giving ceremony and a new ISAF women’s match racing world ranking list will be released later on in August.
 
 
Final Result ISAF Women’s Match Racing World Championship 2009
(with ISAF women's match racing world ranking number in brackets)
 
1. Nicole Souter (8) AUS  
2. Marie Björling (43) SWE           
3. Anna Kjellberg (10) SWE        
4. Claire Leroy (1) FRA
5. Katie Spithill (2) AUS                
6. Camille Ulrikkeholm (13) DEN
7. Sally Barkow (7) USA
8. Lotte Meldgaard Pedersen (5) DEN
9. Lucy Macgregor (3) GBR                     
10. Linda Rahm (4) SWE                         
11. Silke Hahlbrock (6) GER                   
12. Christelle Philippe (19) FRA 
 

 

 

Lysekil, Sweden, August 1

Auction brought 15 685 SEK to Childrens Cancer Foundation

The inhabitants of Lysekil had thier old objects esteemed by action profile Peder Lamm on Wednesday. Those who wanted could thereafter donate their objects to the evenings auction in benefit for the Childrens Cancer Foundation.
15 685 SEK was donated! Thanks to the inhabitants of Lysekil!

Lysekil, Sweden, July 31

Racing Cancelled Today Due to Strong Wind

- Quarter finals cancelled, tomorrow the semi finals start directly

In Lysekil the winds reached storm forces today, blowing more than 50 knots in the worst gusts. In the extreme conditions no racing was possible. As tomorrow Saturday is the last race day, the race committee decided to cancel the quarterfinals and start directly with the semi finals tomorrow morning, with the four best placed teams of the first round robin.
 
Reigning World Champion Claire Leroy of France topped the first round robin and will therefore meet fourth placed Australian Nicole Souter in the semi finals. Second and third placed Marie Björling and Anna Kjellberg, both local favourites, will have an internal Swedish battle for the second finalist place.
Local Swedes can already now look forward to seeing a Swedish contestant in the final of the ISAF Women’s Match Racing World Championship 2009!
 
The semi finals will start tomorrow Saturday 1 August at 9 am local time followed by the final. The race format is first score three points in both the semi finals and the final.
 
The wind forecast for tomorrow is 12 – 18 knots.

No sailing today. Result day 3 Thursday 30 July: ISAF Women’s Match Racing World Championship (with ISAF women's match racing world ranking number):
First Round Robin completed. Top four to semi finals

1. Claire Leroy (1) FRA	10-1	meets Nicole Souter in semi finals
2. Marie Björling (43) SWE	9-2	meets Anna Kjellberg in semi finals
3. Anna Kjellberg (10) SWE	8-3
4. Nicole Souter (8) AUS	6-5
5. Katie Spithill (2) AUS	6-5
6. Camille Ulrikkeholm (13) DEN	6-5
7. Lotte Meldgaard Pedersen (5) DEN	5-6
8. Sally Barkow (7) USA	5-6
9. Lucy Macgregor (3) GBR	5-6
10. Linda Rahm (4) SWE	4-7
11. Silke Hahlbrock (6) GER	2-9
12. Christelle Philippe (19) FRA	0-11

Lysekil, Sweden, July 29, 2009.

First Round Robin Completed in Tough Conditions

- Six teams to the quarterfinals 

The 12 teams in the ISAF Women’s Match Racing World Championship encountered physical sailing when the first Round Robin was completed today. The quarterfinals did not start today as the racing was interrupted at mid-day when a front came in, bringing gale winds to the race course.
 
Cascades of rain were pouring down from the main sails during the last matches of the round robin this afternoon. Strong, very shifty, hard read wind, and at times heavy rain showers, made the racing difficult for both competitors and race committee. But the world’s best female match racers sailed superb races with a lot of action and top level boat handling.
 
French Claire Leroy and the two Swedish teams Marie Björling and Anna Kjellberg were ready for the quarterfinals already yesterday. The three remaining spots were determined in tough duels resulting in a very tight score.
 
Australian Katie Spithill sailed aggressively in the physical conditions and won two of her matches today, and therefore making it to the quarterfinals, which also was the case for her fellow country member Nicole Souter. 
- It is a big benefit for us to have a sparring partner. We are more like a team of 12, having the same coach and pushing each other, said Katie Spithill currently ranked number two on the ISAF women’s match racing world ranking.
 
Camille Ulrikkeholm of Denmark scored the final spot to the quarterfinals, with the same points as the two Australian teams: six victories and five losses.
 
Reigning World Champion Claire Leroy of France topped the first round robin with 10 victories and only one match lost.
- Our objective in the first round robin was to finish top four, so this result is a big surprise and we are very happy. All six teams that have made it to the quarterfinals are sailing really well and every match will be tough racing, said Claire Leroy, who sailed with a brand new crewmember today as the team’s bowman injured her hand when helping trim the gennaker during a difficult tack yesterday afternoon. The new bowman, Camille Lecointre, who has never sailed with the team, was flown in from France late last night. The issue does not seem to have changed Leroy’s success, winning all her matches today.
 
For the quarterfinals the six competitors will sail another round robin (everyone meeting everyone). The four best teams continue to the semi finals. The points from the first round robin are not counted to the quarterfinals.
 
On Saturday the final will be held and the World Champion 2009 will be crowned.
 
Result day 3: ISAF Women’s Match Racing World Championship (with ISAF women's match racing world ranking number):
First Round Robin completed. Top six to quarterfinals.
 

1. Claire Leroy (1) FRA	10-1
2. Marie Björling (43) SWE	9-2
3. Anna Kjellberg (10) SWE	8-3
4. Nicole Souter (8) AUS	6-5
5. Katie Spithill (2) AUS	6-5
6. Camille Ulrikkeholm (13) DEN	6-5
7. Lotte Meldgaard Pedersen (5) DEN	5-6
8. Sally Barkow (7) USA	5-6
9. Lucy Macgregor (3) GBR	5-6
10. Linda Rahm (4) SWE	4-7
11. Silke Hahlbrock (6) GER	2-9
12. Christelle Philippe (19) FRA	0-11

Getting Down to the Wire

The first Round Robin of the ISAF Women’s Match Racing World Championship has soon come to an end. After nine respectively eight sailed matches Anna Kjellberg of Sweden and Claire Leroy of France are leading the competition with only one loss each. With that score the two leaders as well as Swedish Marie Björling are definitely set for the quarterfinals.
 
The Swedish local Anna Kjellberg and French Claire Leroy have won all their matches today putting them on the top of the leaderboard. Three matches remain for the World Champion Leroy and two for Kjellberg in the first Round Robin, but regardless of the result they are sure to make it to the quarterfinals. Marie Björling from Sweden lost one of four matches today and therefore stays closely behind on the leaderboard.
 
Today was filled with both joy and disappointment for the many Swedish spectators and fans as reigning champion of Lysekil Linda Rahm, ranked four on the ISAF Women’s Match Racing World Ranking, only won one of her matches today and will not make it to the quarterfinals.
 
Five teams will fight for the last three places to the quarterfinals. With today’s scoreboard it looks bright for the two Danish teams Lotte Meldgaard Pedersen and Camille Ulrikkeholm. The Danes are used to the boat type DS37 and have both sailed convincingly these first two days. The Australian teams with skippers Katie Spithill and Nicole Sauter, as well as American Sally Barkow also have a chance to proceed to the quarterfinals.
 
 
Result day 2: ISAF Women’s Match Racing World Championship (with ISAF women's match racing world ranking number):
Nine or eight sailed matches of 11 to sail in the first Round Robin
 

Claire Leroy (1) FRA	7-1	one match less
Anna Kjellberg (10) SWE	8-1
Marie Björling (43) SWE	7-2
Lotte Meldgaard Pedersen (5) DEN	5-3	one match less
Camilla Ulrikkeholm (13) DEN	5-4
Katie Spithill (2) AUS	4-4	one match less
Sally Barkow (7) USA	4-5
Nicole Souter (8) AUS	4-5
Lucy Macgregor (3) GBR	3-5	one match less
Linda Rahm (4) SWE	2-6	one match less
Silke Hahlbrock (6) GER	2-6	one match less
Christelle Philippe (19) FRA	0-9

Lysekil, Sweden, July 28, 2009.

Perfect Conditions for the First Day

A very tight start field put on a great show during the first day of the ISAF Women’s Match Racing World Championship in Lysekil, Sweden. Five skippers, Claire Leroy, Katie Spithill, Camille Ulrikkeholm, Anna Kjellberg and Marie Björling have taken the lead with four matches won out of five in the first Round Robin.
 
The World Championship started in perfect conditions. In blue skies and south-westerly winds at around 15 knots, the world’s foremost female match racing teams gave the many spectators action packed sailing with tough manoeuvres pushing the boats to their maximum. The excitement kept on going all day long with tight racing to the last match of the day.
 
- Today’s sailing proves even more that many teams are able to win. The competition is closer than previous years, said defending World Champion Claire Leroy who lost one match today against Swedish local Marie Björling.
 
Björling is having a successful comeback after a two-year break, showing great form.
- We sailed fast, handled the boat well, and made good tactical decisions, said Björling who was happy to start the regatta by beating the World Champion Claire Leroy and Lucy Macgregor ranked third on ISAF women’s world ranking list.
 
Result day 1: ISAF Women’s Match Racing World Championship (with ISAF women's match racing world ranking number):
5 matches sailed out of 11 in the first Round Robin

Marie Björling (43) SWE	4-1
Claire Leroy (1) FRA	4-1
Anna Kjellberg (10) SWE	4-1
Katie Spithill (2) AUS	4-1
Camilla Ulrikkeholm (13) DEN	4-1
Lotte Meldgaard Pedersen (5) DEN	3-2
Silke Hahlbrock (6) GER	2-3
Sally Barkow (7) USA	2-3
Lucy Macgregor (3) GBR	1-4
Linda Rahm (4) SWE	1-4
Nicole Souter (8) AUS	1-4
Christelle Philippe (19) FRA	0-5

Lysekil, Sweden, July 27, 2009.

First Round Robin Starting Tomorrow Tuesday

- ISAF Women’s Match Racing World Championship inaugurated today

 

The ISAF Women's Match Racing World Championship in Lysekil is the most prestigious event in women's match racing. This year's championship has added interest, as it is the first in the four-year cycle, which will culminate in the 2012 Olympic sailing competition, where Women’s Match Racing will feature for the first time on the Olympic programme.
 
After a few hours of training in more than 20 knots of wind the 12 teams had a good taste of what to expect for the next coming five tough days of the ISAF Women’s Match Racing World Championship in Lysekil, Sweden. Tomorrow starts the first “round robin”, when the teams all will meet each opponent once.
 
The 12 teams origin from seven different countries: Great Britain, France, Australia, USA, Germany, Denmark and Sweden. A tight starting field with many options for the gold medal.
 
Britain’s 22-year old Lucy MacGregor is the youngest skipper in the World Championship, but one of the most successful, ranked third on the ISAF women’s world ranking list. MacGregor already has a busy campaign, training full time towards the 2012 Olympics in her home waters in Great Britain.
 
French world champion Claire Leroy is of course one of the favourites for gold as well as Australian Katie Spithill, who won the important Match Race Sweden earlier in July. Several of the Scandinavian teams have clear chances for gold with Swedish Linda Rahm, defending her two-time victory in in Lysekil 2008 and 2007, leading the way. The Swedes and Danes are used to sailing on the Danish race yacht, DS37 match racer, a fast and physical match racing yacht, ideal both competition wise and spectator wise.
 
The opening ceremony will take place tonight by the impressive full-rigger ship Götheborg. During the week more than 85 000 spectators are expected to watch the yacht racing or join some of the many activities on land like free concerts, outdoor cinema, auction or shopping clothes, food and even beds in one of the many exhibition stands.
 
Lysekil Women`s Match will be held for the fifth time in Lysekil. The event has become a major attraction and the number of spectators has increased dramatically since the first event in 2004.
 
Did you know?
Each match will last for about 15-20 minutes and there will be around 20 matches sailed each day from Tuesday to Saturday.
 
12 skippers to the ISAF Women’s Match Racing World Championship (with ISAF world ranking number):
Claire Leroy (1) FRA
Katie Spithill (2) AUS
Lucy MacGregor (3) GBR
Linda Rahm (4)SWE
Lotte Meldgaard Pedersen (5) DEN 
Silke Hahlbrock (6) GER
Sally Barkow (7) USA
Nicole Souter (8) AUS
Anna Kjellberg (10) SWE
Camilla Ulrikkeholm (13) DEN
Christelle Philippe (19) FRA
Marie Björling (wild card) SWE
 

Katie Spithill’s victory in Marstrand!

Press Release Lysekil Women’s Match
ISAF Women’s Match Racing World Championship 2009

Lysekil, Sweden, July 7, 2009.

Australian Katie Spithill Shows Great Form in Marstrand Before the World Championship in Lysekil
- Swedes Anna Kjellberg and Linda Rahm strong opponents taking second and third

The prestigious regatta Match Cup Sweden at Marstrand last week was the big build up event for eight of the 12 teams competing in the ISAF Women’s Match Racing World Championship in Lysekil, in Sweden, 27 July to 1 August.

Australian Katie Spithill won the regatta at Marstrand, showing great form with strong, solid sailing in the DS 37, the same boat type to be used at the World Championship in Lysekil. Spithill, ranked 7 on the Women’s ISAF World Match Race Ranking list, has a silver medal from the World Championship in France 2007. She has participated in several grade 1-regattas in Lysekil but has never made the podium in the waters of Lysekil.
- To have won in Marstrand was an amazing experience for me, and something I didn’t dream of doing this year. But the world championship in Lysekil is now a new event in a new location, so it starts all over again. All of the competitors in this year’s world championship are to be watched, it is a great line up and will be a tough event for everyone.

Marie Björling Wins Grade 1 Race in Portugal!

Press Release June 29, 2009

Marie Björling Wins Grade 1 Race in Portugal
- A good start for the forthcoming World Championship in Lysekil, Sweden, end of July

After a two year long break, Sweden’s former world number one match racer, Marie Björling, has proved that she is still a force to count with, when she last weekend won a Grade 1 (world cup) regatta in Portugal. With a match result of 17-1 she can be a dangerous player for the established elite at the world championship in Lysekil, Sweden, 27 July to 1 August.

- The team has come together nicely. Our decisions were fast and good. We had to fight hard to win our first matches but later on our victories came easier and we only lost one match out of 18. There was a lot of current and quite shifty conditions, which is also the case in Lysekil. We did well in these conditions, which is a great advantage for the coming world championship in Lysekil, said a happy Marie Björling

A pirate school is coming this summer to Lysekil!

Help us find Jack Sparrows hidden treasure!

We would like to meet you and together begin an exciting adventure with lots of different pirate missions during the Lysekil Women’s match. There are rumours that both Jack Sparrow and Black Molly have been sited sneaking around the Lysekil area looking for a lost pirate treasure from the 17th century. In our quest for the treasure, we will with lots of fun and games learn the camaraderie of a life at sea and also the basic rules on how to act while being on the ocean. Among many other things we are going to hoist our pirate flag and send mails in bottles, learn essential pirate knots, how to rig a small sailing boat and of course solve the riddle on how to get to the lost pirate treasure.

The quest beings on:
Tuesday –Saturday from 11 am- 2 pm and 3 pm to 6 pm
Ages: 5-7 years old. The activity is on land. 
You can sign up when you arrive.
There are a limited amount of participators.

Managed by :Svenska Seglarförbundet and Lerums segelsällskap

Don’t miss the chance to join us!!

Bohusläningen, CI Concept Sweden, Empir, Fjord Motorboats, GT, Havsbadsrestaurangen, Huges Marina, Mix Megapol, Nicanders Båtvarv, Norra Bohuslän, Näringslivscentrum Lysekil, Ocean Group, PM Fastigheter, Rambo, Risbergs, Robship, Seldén Mast, Telenor, Terrier Reklam, Torp Köpcentrum, UK Halsey Sailmakers, Valentin&Byhr. Official car: BMW Group, Havets Hus, Dirty Dog, Mumm Champange,Tillväxt Bohuslän.

Welcome back to the Lysekil Women's Match 2010!