Opener for Women’s World Match Racing

Denmark’s Lea Vogelius and her WOW Racing crew of Louise Ulrikkeholm, Sille Christensen, Josefine Rasmussen, Joan Hansen and Maria Juul delivered a standout performance on home waters to win the 2026 KDY Women’s Match Race on May 7-10. The opening stage of the 2026 Women’s World Match Racing Tour attracted eight teams to race DS37 keelboats on Rungsted Harbour in Copenhagen, Denmark.

Vogelius led after the double round robin qualifying stage which led to a classic Scandinavian showdown in the Final against Sweden’s Anna Östling and her WINGS Sailing team. Vogelius and WOW Racing capitalized on their local knowledge of the Rungsted racecourse and their experience in the DS37 keelboats to edge out their rivals 3-1 and claim the title.

“It’s been a tricky event for us, but we love sailing the DS37s,” said Vogelius. “In the final against Anna and her team, we knew anything could happen but luckily we were super-fast today, and we are thrilled to get the win.”

Behind Vogelius, Östling finished second, while France’s Pauline Courtois secured third place after winning the petit final.

Vogelius and WOW Racing take an early lead in the tour standings as the tour now moves to its next stage in the USA at the Santa Maria Cup on June 3-6 in Annapolis, MD.

For detailed results: https://www.matchracingresults.com/2026/wwmrt-denmark/

2026 Schedule
Stage 1 – KDY Women’s Match Race, Copenhagen – May 7-10
Stage 2 – Santa Maria Cup, Annapolis USA – June 3-6
Stage 3 – Nordea Women’s Match Race, Marstrand, SWE – June 29-July 4
Stage 4 – Bermuda Women’s Match Race, Bermuda, – Oct 13-18
Stage 5 – WWMRT Final AMAALA, Saudi Arabia – Nov 10-14 (Provisional)

Details: womenswmrt.com

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.

Source: WWMRT