Denmark Leads WIM Series Opener

Helsinki, Finland (June 28, 2016) – The Danish long-time World #1 Camilla Ulrikkeholm Klinkby (DEN) showed today that routine and experience are key factors in match racing. With five wins she’s the only undefeated skipper, already sitting alone at the top of the leader board of the Helsinki Women’s Match, the opening event of the Women’s International Match Racing Series (WIM Series).

“We had some trouble with the timing today, but we’re really happy to be match racing again after the long break since the 2015 WIM Series final in Korea last October,” says Ulrikkeholm Klinkby.

The grey skies, the cold winds and the heavy rain during Monday’s practise session, were all forgiven and forgotten as the round-robin got underway in bright sunshine and a warm and somewhat shifty south-westerly breeze around 10-12 knots.

Among a dozen participating teams from half as many countries, Camilla Ulrikkeholm Klinkby and her team immediately took command. But the Danish winning streak almost came to an end when they met the French skipper Pauline Courtois in the last match of the day.

“We timed the start badly and let Pauline take the lead,” Ulrikkeholm Klinkby describes. “She kept it through the first upwind and down to the bottom mark approach, before we could roll her and drive her far away from the mark. Then we kept her behind us all the way to the finish line.”

“It was our mistake,” Courtois admits. “We had some problems with our spinnaker, and that cost us first the lead and finally also the match.”

The racing continues tomorrow with the round-robin on the waters at Hernesaari (Ärtholmen), to be followed by quarterfinals, semi finals and then the conclusion with the final on Friday, July 1.

Day One Standings
1. Camilla Ulrikkeholm Klinkby, DEN, 5 – 0
2. Renée Groeneveld, NED, 4 – 1
2. Pauline Courtois, FRA, 4 – 1
2. Caroline Sylvan, SWE, 4 – 1
2. Anna Östling, SWE, 4 – 1
6. Marinella Laaksonen, FIN, 3 – 2
7. Antonia Degerlund, FIN, 2 – 3
7. Rikst Dijkstra, NED, 2 – 3
9. Susanna Kukkonen FIN, 1 – 4
9. Sanna Mattsson, SWE, 1 – 4
11. Diana Kissane, IRL, 0 – 5
11. Sanna Häger, SWE, 0 – 5

2016 WIM Series events
* June 27-July 1, Helsinki Women’s Match, Helsinki, Finland, J/80
* August 8-13, Lysekil Women’s Match, Lysekil, Sweden, DS 37
* September 20-25, Women’s Match Racing World Championship & Buddy Melges Challenge, Sheboygan, USA, Elliott 6m
* October 25-29, Busan Cup Women’s International Match Race, Busan, South Korea, K30

WIM Series – Facebook – YouTube

Background: 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. An overall prize purse of 50,000 USD will be distributed by the WIM Series, in addition to the prize money at each of the events included in the 2016 WIM Series.

Source: Women’s International Match Racing Series