Thursday 17th September, 2009
With a more moderate breeze today, the organising authority has managed to get the match racing competition back on track.
First out was Group A, to complete their round-robin, which was won by World #1 Claire Leroy (FRA) with Anna Kjellberg (SWE) in second. Next up Group C headed out, for our three remaining races to complete the round-robin. We beat Genny Tulloch (USA) and Linda Rahm (SWE) but suffered our first defeat of the competition in a fiercely fought battle with the 2008 Olympic Gold medallist Anna Tunnicliffe (USA). Anna’s team also counted six wins and one loss, so we were tied on points, though as it was her team we lost to they finished the round-robin in first place, putting us second. Group B then completed their final remaining round-robin match, which resulted in a first place for Renee Groeneveld (NED) while second went to Lucinda Whitty (AUS).
Due to the weather delays in the previous days, it was decided to cancel the second round-robin stages and move straight into a quarter-final knock-out. The top two teams from each of the three round-robin groups automatically went through, while a mini repêchage was held to determine the final two contenders in the quarter finals, from which emerged Mary Rook (GBR) and Katie Spithill (AUS).
Our quarter-final is against the Australian team of Lucinda Whitty, and we’ve just come ashore after a long day on the water with one win apiece in a first-to-three points contest. Tomorrow we will finish the quarter-finals, and hopefully move in to the semis.
The following clip broadcast by the BBC is a round-up of the action across all of the classes so far this week, featuring a short interview and footage of us competing in the Elliott 6m.
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Tags: 2009, Elliott 6M, ISAF Sailing World Cup, Skandia Sail for Gold, Video, Weymouth
Thursday 17th September, 2009
While there may not have been any racing in the Skandia Sail for Gold Olympic Classes Regatta yesterday, ISAF released the latest Match Racing World Rankings.
With a strong performance winning the Grade 2 warm-up event last week against top competition boosting our score, we’re delighted to have moved up to world #2 :)
The gap between us and Claire Leroy of France, the long-term leader of the World Rankings, has closed even further, so we’re continuing to make good progress in working towards the top spot.
Lets hope for some good racing today in Weymouth, it’s currently still fairly breezy but I’m sure the Organising Authority are as keen to get us out there as we are!
More later,
Lucy
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Tags: 2009, ISAF World Ranking
Wednesday 16th September, 2009
With winds blowing again this morning, at times even stronger than they were yesterday, all racing on the Women’s Match Racing course has been postponed for the day. The organising authority hopes to complete the round-robin stages tomorrow, and then review the programme for Friday/Saturday — probably straight into quarter finals.
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Tags: 2009, Elliott 6M, ISAF Sailing World Cup, Skandia Sail for Gold, Weymouth
Tuesday 15th September, 2009
Strong winds have hampered proceedings during the second day of Sail for Gold, with only four flights achieved on the match racing course today. Gusts of up to 35 knots kept us inside Portland Harbour, which gave some shelter, but still provided many exciting moments! The conditions were certainly testing for both the crews and the fleet of new Elliott 6m yachts, which seem to be holding up well.
Group B were first out on the water today, and completed three matches, bringing them up to 6 out of the 7 races needed to complete the round-robin. After some delay waiting for the conditions to moderate, Group C was sent out where we were able to complete one match before all remaining races were postponed until tomorrow, leaving Group A with a frustrating day spent ashore.
In the one match we did manage to complete today, we faced our fellow British team of Mary Rook, Bethan Carden, and my younger sister Kate Macgregor, which we’re pleased to have won while sailing in some pretty difficult conditions. We’re leading our group as the only team with four wins our of four so far, however the competition is now behind schedule and tomorrow’s forecast is for similar conditions. If the organising authority decides to eliminate any of the planned stages then this would put further emphasis on finishing in one of the top two spots in each round-robin group to progress through to the next round. Either way, we’re happy with our performance so far, and look forward to hopefully less waiting and more action on the water tomorrow!
Lucy
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Tags: 2009, Elliott 6M, ISAF Sailing World Cup, Skandia Sail for Gold, Weymouth
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