Courtois wins Normandy Match Cup

The third stage of the 2023 Women’s World Match Racing Tour had 11 teams from six nations competing May 26-29 at the Normandy Match Cup in Le Havre, FRA. Using J/80s, Pauline Courtois (FRA) won the qualifying round robin stage, and stayed perfect through the knock-out rounds to win the title. North American representative Nicole Breault (USA) lost to Megan Thomson (NZL) in the Quarter Finals, with the Kiwi advancing to the Final where she was defeated by Courtois.

Tour information – Event details – Results – Facebook

Report from the WWMRT:
French female match racer Pauline Courtois and her Match in Pink Normandy Elite team proved unstoppable as they defended their Normandie Match Cup title in Le Havre, France, Stage 3 of the 2023 Women’s World Match Racing Tour.

Courtois and her regular crew of Louise Acker, Clara Bayo, Théa Khleif, and Maëlenn Lemaitre defeated New Zealand’s 2.0 Racing Team skippered by Megan Thomson 3-0 in the first to three points final. Fellow Kiwi team EDGE Womens Match skippered by Celia Willison joined the podium in 3rd place after an action packed petit-final against Sweden’s WINGS Team skippered by Anna Östling.

It was not an easy day for the four teams competing in the petit-final and final, as well as the last race of the ‘Queen of the Castle’ stage to decide the final 5th to 11th placings.

After climbing from 10th to 6th place, Otter Racing (skipper Sophie Otter) was unable to clinch their last win against Team Out of the Box (skipper Julia Aartsen) and settled with the 6th place overall with Aartsen and crew taking 5th place.

In the petit-final between Östling and Willison, it was all-action as Östling and crew took the first win in the first-to-three points match, only for Willison to level the score at 1-1. Willison then won the third race and Östling levelled back at 2-2 with a decider for the match.

The Swedish team crossed the line to go 3-2 but were deducted a point for damage caused by a collision earlier in the race.

After a boat switch, both teams re-sailed the decider match but this time the tables were turned and it was Willison and her EDGE Womens Match crew of Rebecca Coles, Ruby Scholten, Alison Kent, and Laurane Mettraux that took the win to finish 3-2 and secure their podium finish in 3rd place.

2023 Women’s World Match Racing Tour
April 24-28 – Casa Vela Cup (J/22) – San Francisco, USA
April 30-May 4 – Santa Maria Cup (J/22) – Annapolis, USA
May 26-29 – Normandy Match Cup (J/80) – Le Havre, FRA
September 21-24 – KDY Women’s Match Race (DS37) – Copenhagen, DEN