Stephanie Roble leads field into Lysekil Women’s Match Semi-Finals

Lysekil, Sweden (August 7, 2015) – Only looking at the Friday results sheet of Lysekil Women’s Match, the second stage of the 2015 WIM Series, one would think that four rather easy quarterfinals were sailed. But that was certainly not the case. The crowds who had flocked to the cliffs of Släggö Island, in the Western Sweden sailing metropolis Lysekil, saw world class match-racing as the fights for the coveted semi final slots went harder and harder.

In one of the matches 4-time Lysekil winner Camilla Ulrikkeholm Klinkby sailed Alexa Bezel way past the bottom mark, causing the Swiss skipper so much trouble with the spinnaker that she had to withdraw from the match. And that episode was just one example of all the spectacular moves that took advantage of the rules and the match-racing tactics playbook.

“I see no reason not to fully go for it,” explained the Dane. “The closer to the end of the regatta we get, the more important it will be to do that. We’ve raced together for a long time, we know each other very well and our crew work is nothing but outstanding. All this gives us every opportunity to sail tactically exactly as we wish.”

Anna Östling is also looking forward to Saturday’s racing with confidence, longing for revenge after last year’s frustrating final loss to Ulrikkeholm Klinkby.

“Now the opposition will get even tougher than earlier this week,” Östling says. “It’ll be fun for us and great fun for the spectators.”

Sylvan agrees, “We’ll have to be on our toes all the time, with no room to relax. In today’s quarterfinals we found our speed again, with three fantastic races against experienced Anne-Claire Le Berre. We’re feeling safe and confident for any semi final opponent.”

As the winner of the round-robin stage, Stephanie Roble (USA) has the advantage of choosing her semi final opponent. “My crew and I will discuss that during the evening, and reveal our choice Saturday morning,” Roble smiles mysteriously, pleased with being undefeated so far. “It’s been great action all week, but tomorrow it’ll be even tighter and tougher.”

Lysekil Women’s Match concludes Saturday with semi finals and final.

Results in the Lysekil Women’s Match quarterfinals:
Stephanie Roble, USA – Pauline Courtois, FRA, 3 – 0
Camilla Ulrikkeholm Klinkby, DEN – Alexa Bezel, SUI, 3 – 0
Anna Östling, SWE – Klaartje Zuiderbaan, NED, 3 – 1
Caroline Sylvan, SWE – Anne-Claire Le Berre, FRA, 3 – 0

Results after placement sailings:
9. Annabel Vose, GBR
10. Johanna Bergqvist, SWE
11. Juliana Senfft, BRA
12. Sanna Häger, SWE

WIM Series – Event website – Worlds standings

Report by Joakim Hermansson

Standings in the 2015 WIM Series after one stage out of four (skipper name, country, WIM Series points):
1. Lotte Meldgaard, DEN, 25
2. Camilla Ulrikkeholm Klinkby, DEN, 22
3. Stephanie Roble, USA, 20
4. Anne-Claire Le Berre, FRA, 16
5. Anna Östling, SWE, 15
6. Katie Spithill, AUS, 14
7. Caroline Sylvan, SWE, 13
8. Klaartje Zuiderbaan, NED, 12
9. Milly Bennett, AUS, 10
10. Pauline Courtois, FRA, 8
11. Louise Christensen, DEN, 6
12. Diana Kissane, IRL, 4
13. Rikst Dijkstra, NED, –
14. Johanna Larsson, SWE, –
15. Nina Ramm-Schmidt, FIN, –
16. Sanna Häger, SWE, –

2015 WIM Series events (date, event name, venue):
* July 8 – 12, ISAF Women’s Match Racing World Championship, Middelfart, Denmark.
* August 3 – 8, Lysekil Women’s Match, Lysekil, Sweden.
* September 16 – 20, Buddy Melges Challenge, Sheboygan, USA.
* October 28 – November 1, Busan Cup Women’s International Match Race, Busan, Korea.

Background: The 2015 Women’s International Match Racing Series is in its third season, providing a four-event professional sailing circuit organized by the Women’s International Match Racing Association for the world’s leading women match racing sailors. An overall prize purse of 40 000 USD will be distributed by the WIM Series at the final event in addition to prize money at each of the four events.