USA-Denmark showdown for WIM Series Title

Busan, Korea (October 30, 2015) – The completion of the round-robin stage has set the table in the Busan Cup Women’s International Match Race for the quarter-final match ups, and the determination of who will win the 2015 Women’s International Match Racing Series (WIM Series).

With three more wins in Friday’s racing, Anne-Claire Le Berre of France went to 10 – 1 to win the round-robin stage. The fight for the WIM Series title will now heat up, as World #1, but Series’ runner-up, Camilla Ulrikkeholm Klinkby chose American leader Maggie Shea in the quarters.

“We want to be able to do the job ourselves,” the Dane stated. “Beating Maggie is the only way we can take the WIM Series.”

“We had a good race against Camilla in the round-robin, and we’re happy to see her again,” Shea replies.

Friday morning saw a short postponement as Regatta Director Alfredo Ricci moved the course from just off of Haeundae Beach to an area closer to the Gwangan Bridge. After just a few minutes with the AP flag flying from the committee boat, the starting sequence commenced in 5-7 knots of shifty and puffy breeze, which built to 8-12 knots at midday. The shoreline skyscrapers also affected the already unsteady wind.

“It wasn’t that difficult today, as we could clearly see the puffs come rolling down the course, read the wind quite easily and adapt to it,” Le Berre comments.

The French World #4 won all three of her Friday matches, finishing the day by defeating compatriot Pauline Courtois, who badly needed a win in that last race to qualify for the quarterfinals.

“We must sail our own race and can’t take into account if the opponent is French or not,” Le Berre explains. “We want to win the round-robin, to be able to choose ourselves whom to meet in the quarters.”

Previously undefeated Katie Spithill saw her first two setbacks today, against Ulrikkeholm Klinkby and Dutch Renée Groeneveld, to finish round-robin runner-up on a 9 – 2 score. But the Aussie wasn’t too upset about her lost matches.

“We made a few mistakes, but it’s better to do them now than later on in the regatta,” Spithill analyses. “Pretty much we lost those matches already on the starting line, so we’ll need better prestarts. It’s a new scorecard now. We’re looking forward to the weekend, and we’re excited to get racing tomorrow.”

Maggie Shea, substituting for regular Epic Racing skipper, World #2 and WIM Series leader Stephanie Roble, had a tough Friday on the Korean waters, losing both her races to complete the round-robin stage at 7-4.

“It wasn’t our best day of racing, but we learned a lot,” notes Shea. “Actually I’m thankful for the close racing and for the situations that occurred, it’ll help us improve for the weekend.”

Especially grateful for the US mistakes is local hope Sung-Eon Choi, who took her first bullet in her home event by defeating Shea & Co.

“We did a very good start and led all the way around the course, to finish about three boat lengths ahead of the Americans,” Choi said. “It was a great feeling!”

Quarterfinals and semis are planned for Saturday, leaving the final races for Sunday, November 1. Three skippers can still win the 2015 WIM Series: Roble/Shea, Ulrikkeholm Klinkby and Swede Anna Östling.

Final Round Robin Standings
(skipper, nationality, wins – losses)
1. Anne-Claire Le Berre, FRA, 10 – 1
2. Katie Spithill, AUS, 9 – 2
3. Camilla Ulrikkeholm Klinkby, DEN, 8 – 3
4. Maggie Shea (substituting for Stephanie Roble), USA, 7 – 4
5. Caroline Sylvan, SWE, 7 – 4
6. Anna Östling, SWE, 6 – 5
7. Renée Groeneveld, NED, 4,5 – 5
8. Denise Lim, SIN, 4 – 7
—————–
9. Pauline Courtois, FRA, 4 – 7
10. Milly Bennett, AUS, 3 – 8
11. Diana Kissane, IRL, 2 – 9
12. Sung Eun Choi, KOR, 1 – 10

Quarterfinal pairings
Anne-Claire Le Berre, FRA – Denise Lim, SIN
Katie Spithill, AUS – Caroline Sylvan, SWE
Camilla Ulrikkeholm Klinkby, DEN – Maggie Shea (substituting for Stephanie Roble), USA
Anna Östling, SWE – Renée Groeneveld, NED

WIM Series website – Busan Cup – Facebook – Twitter

The Busan Cup Women’s International Match Race marks the conclusion of the Women’s International Match Racing Series (WIM Series) 2015 season. With the rich prize pool of USD 100 000 for the event and USD 40 000 for the WIM Series, there is a lot for the sailors to be fighting for. Racing in K30s is scheduled on October 28 – November 1. The trophy for the WIM Series overall winner – The Terry J. Kohler Perpetual Trophy – is named after US businessman Terry Kohler, a long-time proponent and supporter of women’s match racing.

Standings in the 2015 WIM Series, after three stages out of four (skipper, nationality, WIM Series points):
1. Stephanie Roble, USA, 67
2. Camilla Ulrikkeholm Klinkby, DEN, 60
3. Anna Östling, SWE, 55
4. Anne-Claire Le Berre, FRA, 53
5. Caroline Sylvan, SWE, 41
6. Pauline Courtois, FRA, 30
7. Klaartje Zuiderbaan, NED, 26
8. Lotte Meldgaard, DEN, 25
9. Juliana Senfft, BRA, 21
10. Renée Groeneveld, NED, 16
11. Johanna Bergqvist, SWE, 14
12. Katie Spithill, AUS, 14
13. Alexa Bezel, SUI, 13
14. Diana Kissane, IRL, 12
15. Annabel Vose, GBR, 10
15. Milly Bennett, AUS, 10
17. Louise Christensen, DEN, 6
18. Morgan Wilson, USA, 4
18. Sanna Häger, SWE, 4
20. Rikst Dijkstra, NED, 0
20. Johanna Larsson, SWE, 0
20. Nina Ramm-Schmidt, FIN, 0

About the Women’s International Match Racing Series
The Women’s International Match Racing Series (WIM Series) is the first and only professional sailing series for women, hosted by the Women’s International Match Racing Association and joined by the world’s leading women match racing sailors. Match racing is sailed in two identical boats around a short course, providing fast action close to the crowds on shore.

The intense racing is just as exciting for the spectators as it is strategically, tactically and physically challenging for the competing crews. An overall prize purse of 40 000 USD will be distributed by the WIM Series at the final event in Busan, Korea, in addition to the prize money at each of the four events included in the 2015 WIM Series

2015 WIM Series (date, event name, location, boat type):
* July 8 – 12, ISAF Women’s Match Racing World Championship, Middelfart, Denmark, Match 28.
* August 3 – 8, Lysekil Women’s Match, Lysekil, Sweden, DS 37.
* September 16 – 20, Buddy Melges Challenge, Sheboygan, USA, Elliott 6.
* October 28 – November 1, Busan Cup Women’s International Match Race, Busan, Korea, K30.

Report by Event Media