Dicey start to WIM Series Busan

Busan, Korea (November 14, 2017) – The Busan Cup Women’s International Match Race got underway today under sunny skies but with a shifty northwesterly breeze keeping the teams and the race committee on their toes all day. As the third event of the Women’s International Match Racing (WIM) Series, the field of 12 teams were divided into two groups for the start of the round robin qualifying stage.

The Danish team skippered by Trine Palludan, Team Kattnakken, took advantage of the shifty conditions in the morning to finish the day undefeated with a scorecard of 5 wins and no losses. “Whenever you sail here in Busan you must be careful to sail to the shifts,” said Palludan. “You cannot rely on simply covering the other boat, if you do that you can’t win. Everyone on board is involved in deciding where to go and keeping the boat sailing fast. We are very happy with how we did today.”

When the second group of six teams took to the water in the afternoon the winds decreased slightly to 4 or 5 knots and for a time became even more shifty before gradually increasing to over 12 knots. In the afternoon group, Swedish skipper Caroline Sylvan and her New Sweden Match Racing Team also conquered the conditions and ended the day undefeated.

With more than half of the initial round-robin stage still to be completed over the next two days, there is plenty of room for positions to change in the results table before the quarter-final knockout stage. The weather may also influence the outcome as a cold front is due to pass through region and bring with it strong breeze and rain.

Racing is planned for November 14 to 18.

 
Day One Standings
1- Trine Palludan, DEN, Team Kattnakken, 5-0
1- Caroline Sylvan, SWE, New Sweden Match Racing Team, 5-0
3- Pauline Courtois, FRA, Match in Pink by Normandy Elite Team, 4-1
4- Renée Groeneveld, NED, Matchrace Team Netherlands, 3-2
4- Lucy Macgregor, GBR, Team Mac, 3-2
4- Marinella Laaksonen, FIN, L2 Match Racing Team, 3-2
7- Anna Östling, SWE, Team Anna, 2-3
7- Sarah Parker, AUS, Team Parker, 2-3
9- Linnea Floser, SWE, Peregrine Racing, 1-4
9- Clare Costanzo, AUS, Team Costanzo, 1-4
9- Alexa Bezel, SUI, Swiss Women Match Race Team, 1-4
12- Eunjin Kim, KOR, Team Ladies, 0-5

WIM Series – Event details – Entry list – Facebook

Background: The Women’s International Match Racing Series is in its fifth season, providing in 2017 a four-event professional sailing circuit organized by the Women’s International Match Racing Association for the world’s leading women match racing sailors.

2017 Women’s International Match Racing Series
June 16-21 – Women’s Match Racing World Championship – Helsinki, Finland
August 7-12 – Lysekil Women’s Match – Lysekil, Sweden
November 13-18 – Busan Cup Women’s International Match Race – Busan, South Korea
Nov 30-Dec 3 – Carlos Aguilar Match Race – St Thomas, US Virgin Islands – Cancelled
December 11-16 2017 International Bedanne’s Cup – Tourville-la-Rivière, France

WIM Series Standings (After 2 events)
1. Renée Groeneveld, Dutch Match Racing Team, NED, 47
2. Anna Östling, Team Anna, SWE, 38
3. Trine Palludan, Team Experience, DEN, 38
4. Pauline Courtois, Match in Pink by Normandy Elite Team, FRA, 34
5. Caroline Sylvan, New Sweden Match Racing Team, SWE, 26
6. Marinella Laaksonen, L2 Match Racing Team, FIN, 26
7. Lucy Macgregor, Team Mac, GBR, 25
8. Johanna Bergqvist, Team Bergqvist Match Racing, SWE, 20
9. Alexa Bezel, ChicaCER Women Match Racing Team, SUI, 14
10. Mikaela Fors, Pen & Hammer Sailing Team, FIN, 14
11. Antonia Degerlund, Team Sköna Vibbisar, FIN, 11
12. Linnéa Floser, Peregrine Racing, SWE, 8
13. Octavia Owen, Athena Racing, GBR, 7
14. Margot Riou, APCC Women’s Sailing Team, FRA, 7
15. Martina Karlemo, Team Karlemo, FIN, 6
16. Sanna Häger, Stockholm Match Racing Team, SWE, 4
17. Ekaterina Kochkina, Team SailWay, RUS, 3

Source: WIM Series