ISAF Match Race Rankings

November 12, 2014 – There’s no change atop of the ISAF Match Race Rankings with Taylor Canfield (ISV) and Camilla Ulrikkeholm (DEN) holding firm in the Open and Women’s rankings.

Open Rankings
Johnie Berntsson (SWE) was triumphant at the 2014 Argo Group Gold Cup in Hamilton, Bermuda and as a result moves up four spots to World #12. The Swedish racer followed the world’s top sailors such as Russell Coutts, Peter Gilmour, Ben Ainslie and Chris Dickson in becoming a two time victor of the Argo Group Gold Cup, the sixth stage of the Alpari World Match Racing Tour.

The Swedish sailor claimed the title 3-1 over Switzerland’s Eric Monnin. Despite walking away as runner-up, Monnin can celebrate the fact that his performance pushed him up to World #4 from World #6, a personal best.

World #1 Taylor Canfield (ISV) and World #2 Ian Williams (GBR) locked horns in the Petit Final in Bermuda with the World #1 coming out on top. With a third place overall Canfield solidified and extended his advantage over Williams in the Open Rankings. Just over 500 points separates the leading duo as the fight for not only the World #1 spot but also Alpari World Match Racing Tour title heats up with just the Monsoon Cup in Johor, Malaysia remaining.

Tomislav Basic (CRO) took the inaugural ISAF Grade 2 Alpe Adria Match Race Championship in Izola, Slovenia and as a result progresses up the Open Rankings to World #17 from World #24. Runner up Christian Binder (AUT) also advances up the Open Rankings to World #43.

David Storrs (USA) had a superb October, winning the CMRC Autumn Invitational A and B in Belmont Harbour, USA. Both were ISAF Grade 3 regattas and push the American from World #43 to World #30, his best ranking position to date.

Oakcliff Halloween Invitational victor Christophe Killian (USA) is one of the month’s big movers after he took full points from the ISAF Grade 3 regatta. Killian defeated Lance Fraser (BER) in the final and moves up 37 spots to World #60. Fraser put in solid performances at the CMRC Autumn Invitational A and B and leaps up to World #52, a career best.

With a number of ISAF Grade 3, 4 and 5 regattas included in this ranking release there are plenty of changes down the list.

Click here for the Open Rankings.

Women’s
Camilla Ulrikkeholm (DEN) counts eight exceptional regatta scores to her points total and remains firmly in charge atop of the ISAF Women’s Match Race Rankings.

Despite missing the Busan Women’s Match Race 2014 in Korea the Dane is more than 500 points ahead of World #2 Anna Kjellberg (SWE). In all eight of the regattas she counts to her point’s total Ulrikkeholm has finished on the podium at each one with three gold medals to her name.

Trine Palludan (DEN) was stand-in skipper for Team Ulrikkeholm at the Busan Women’s Match Race and with a fourth place finish ensured that Team Ulrikkeholm claimed the Women’s International Match Race Series title. However, as skipper the ISAF Women’s Match Race Rankings points were awarded to Palludan. As a result Palludan advances up to World #26 from World #73.

Great Britain’s Lucy Macgregor was the triumphant skipper at the 2014 Busan Women’s Match Race as she defeated Australia’s Katie Spithill in a tense final. In the first to three final it went down to a deciding race with the scores locked at two apiece. Former World #1 Macgregor held her nerve and defeated Spithill to claim the Busan title for the second time after winning in 2009.

Having picked up maximum points Macgregor advances up to World #8 from World #12 in the Women’s Rankings. Runner-up Spithill climbs from World #23 to World #11.

There is no change from World #1 to World #7 as the skippers prepare for the 2015 edition of the Women’s International Match Race Series.

Click here for the Women’s Rankings.

Report by ISAF