Women’s World Tour in San Francisco

The 2025 Women’s World Match Racing Tour 6-event season begins in the USA with the Casa Vela Cup in San Francisco, CA. With ten teams from four nations, 4-time US Women’s Match Racing Champion Nicole Breault looks forward to the world coming to her home waters.

“I really respect the level of competition they bring while keeping such a positive vibe,” Breault said. “I’ve made some good friends over the years racing these events, and this week we are excited for the return of the Casa Vela Cup to San Francisco.

Breault’s is sailing with Molly O’Bryan Vandemoer, McKenzie Wilson, and Hailey Thompson. “I cast a net out to sailors with the right skills and size, but also the ability to do as much of the racing this year as possible; I wanted to build a team for the Tour with good chemistry and consistency.”

Four contenders include skippers Pauline Courtois (France), Anna Östling (Sweden), Julia Aartsen (Netherlands), and Kenza Coutard (France), all ranked in the top six among women. Breault will also face 4-time US Women’s Match Racing Champion (and current title holder) Allie Blecher (Los Angeles, CA)

“Allie just sailed the Congressional Cup with me as my tactician – she’s a super good friend and match racing rival here in the US,” Breault said. “We love racing together and against each other. Her team is strong with lots of ambition.”

Blecher is sailing with Beka Schiff, Alana Marks, and Martha Parker.

“Beka and I have sailed together for ten years now; Alana and I have sailed together on and off over the last five and ten years – the three of us went to the College of Charleston together at varying times so we have a past,” Blecher explained. “I’m not setting any expectations by any means. We’re out there to use it as a practice with our sights on the Worlds later in the year.”

Breault plans to do the three US events in the 2025 Tour: San Francisco (Casa Vela Cup), Annapolis (Santa Maria Cup), and Chicago (World Sailing Women’s Match Racing Championship), and possibly the Bermuda Gold Cup. Two European events will be held, one in France and another in Sweden.

“It’s really fun to be part of the whole process and especially to advocate for the newer sailors to get into the game,” Breault commented. “I’ve always worn two hats, one helping other sailors who are reaching toward their goals – maybe coaching a little or crewing for them – meanwhile I wear the hat of a competitor too. There’s a switch that flips in me when I’m racing and you’ll see the competitive part of me just come out.”

Hosted by St Francis Yacht Club, the Casa Vela Cup will use their fleet of J/22s with racing on May 29-31.

Details: https://theclubspot.com/regatta/zkYxdDR9uR

Women’s World Match Racing Tour 2025 Schedule
Stage 1. Casa Vela Cup – San Francisco, CA: May 28-31
Stage 2. Santa Maria Cup – Annapolis, MD: June 4-7
Stage 3. Normandy Match Cup – Le Havre, France: June 6-9
Stage 4. Nordea Women’s Trophy – Marstrand, Sweden: June 30-July 5
Stage 5. Women’s Match Racing World Championship – Chicago, IL:  September 17-20
Stage 6. Bermuda Women’s Match Race – Hamilton, Bermuda: October 21-26

The Women’s World Match Racing Tour was launched in 2022 to continue the hugely successful legacy of the WIM Series (Women’s International Match Racing Series) providing a global match racing series for female sailors. The name of the series was re-launched as the Women’s World Match Racing Tour with its continued mission to expand and strengthen global match racing and promote opportunities for competitive women’s sailing at every level. The Women’s World Match Racing Tour is the world’s first and only professional sailing series for women providing a valuable pathway for aspiring female world champions in the sport of sailing.

Details: https://womenswmrt.com/

Source: StFSF