In the 2008 archive there are two great reports from events we attended last year, giving an ideal introduction to Match Racing and showing what it’s all about!

First up is a two-part video from the Troia Women’s Portugal Match Cup, where we finished 2nd in October 2008. These boats are exciting, responsive and challenging to sail, and coupled with difficult conditions at the venue it just goes to show it’s not over until you’ve crossed the line!

Second, the Lysekil Womens Match, from earlier last year where we finished 4th. In 2009 Lysekil will be hosting the Women’s World Match Racing Championships, where we will be competing again at this fantastic venue.

We hope we can bring you more coverage as the 2009 season progresses…

We are also finally getting the opportunity to do some training together! Since Ally and I teamed up in September we’ve been to so many events that we have actually done very little training together. With the very kind support of friends at Poole YC we’ve had some really useful days out on the water. Sailing in R19s (unique to Poole YC) we’ve been working on boat handling and have been spending some really good time on our communication prestart. Despite it getting VERY chilly, we’ve got more days lined up in the run to Christmas and plenty more left to work on.

We hope everyone has a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!!

Our Grade 1 wins in Germany and Grade 2 win in Antibes along with 2nd at the Portugal Women’s Match Cup meant once again we were the biggest mover. Entering the top 10 for the first time we are still only counting six of a possible 8 events compared to those around us.

Click on the video below to see us in action!

With the same number of boats as teams the Sun Sailing Team organizers were able to keep us all out racing all the time and despite unfavorable weather conditions at times, we were able to complete three round robins. During these we generally sailed very well with moments of brilliance however there was a particular moment I’d rather forget but am sure I’ll never be able to live down! In our second race against top ranked Linda Rahm we entered the start line from the starboard end and while ‘dialed up’ head to wind, lost steerage and with the 3 knot cross tide ended up stuck on the committee boat and being towed off by ribs! I hope I’ll never do that one again!

After a real mix of conditions and a thrilling third race against Rahm where we came from behind to take the lead on the second beat and win, we sailed well to finish the round robin stage in 2^nd place behind Rahm.

Unfortunately in complete contrast to Fridays racing in 20 knots, we were left drifting in just 2 knots of wind on Saturday and with a 3.30pm deadline to complete races by, we were frustratingly called off before starting any races in the final. Although disappointed not to get the chance to go head to head against Rahm in the finals, finishing in second place at a Grade 1 event is another fantastic result for us especially in the larger boats looking ahead to next years World Championships in DS37 boats.

Whilst Team GBR celebrate the successes of Qingdao, Macgregor stepped away from the Yngling, moved back to helming putting her talents to good use in the match racing arena. The two time National Champion and current European Champion has set her sights on 2012 and has quickly put together a campaign that has seen her win and take 2nd in Grade 1 events in Germany and Portugal respectively, and now qualify GBR for the Nations Cup Grand Final in Brazil, March 2009.

Performances like this have seen Lucy and her team leap to 13th and top British helm in the recently updated World Match Racing Rankings despite only 5 from a potential 8 race results counting, this is hoped to be improved even further when the Rankings are next updated at the end of this month. What’s more impressive is the range of boats that they have mastered to achieve these results from the small and lightweight First 7.5 to the purpose designed, much larger, Swedish Match 40.

As well as the Match Racing Team Macgregor has also illustrated their versatility in fleet racing where they were top female boat at the J24 World Championships in Sardinia.

The team’s next match racing event will be the Rolex Osprey Cup in St Petersburg, Florida 21st–25th October.

10 teams from the top of the Women’s Match Racing world rankings gathered to fight for this ISAF grade 1 event. To win they had to complete two round robin series, semi finals and finals, sailing Beneteau First Class 7.5s.

Macgregor and her team sailed a great opening series in winds varying from 3kts to 25kts, only dropping a couple of races. They comfortably qualified for the semi finals along with Hahlbrock (GER), Christelle Philippe (FRA) ranked #7 and Julie Bossard (FRA) ranked #18.

In the semi final Macgregor was selected by Bossard, the Round Robin winner as her opponent. A mistake by Bossard. Macgregor and her team sailed two fantastic races, with good crew work and decision making, leading the French from start to finish to put themselves into the finals with a 2–0 victory. Hahlbrock beat Philippe by the same margin.

The first race of the final was again convincingly won by Macgregor. This time in very little wind, emphasising her ability to sail fast. However what little wind there was did not stay long enough for the final to be completed. But with Macgregor having been the most consistent sailor and knocking out her higher ranked opponents, she was crowned champion, celebrating in style with a shower of champagne. Hahlbrock settled for 2nd place and Philippe won the petit final to take 3rd ahead of her compatriot Bossard.

Overall Results:

1. Lucy Macgregor (GBR)
2. Silke Hahlbrock (GER)
3. Christelle Philippe (FRA)
4. Julie Bossard (FRA)
5. Lorenza Mariani (ITA)
6. Charlotta Thorelius (SWE)
7. Madlen Frey (GER)
8. Karin Hagström (SWE)
9. Maria Ramires (POR)

Sport Nautique St Quay Portrieux ran a superb event. They provided 10 first class 8 boats and spares so that all the teams could sail all the time. Racing was held near to the shore to give the spectators a grand stand view and weather was generally warm and sunny with breezes between 5 and 15 knots.

For two days the teams sailed a double round robin giving plenty of time to get used to the boats. Racing was very tight with only the team of Anne-Claire Le Berre getting substantially away from the rest. Two teams were eliminated from the draw for the quarter finals and, of course, all the others teams were back on level terms again.

At this stage Macgregor and team started to excel. Two 3–0 wins against Christelle Phillipe of France and current world ranked number 2 Lotte Meldgarde Pedersen of Denmark gave them some resting time. Gurioli had longer and more tense matches against Silke Hahlbrock, world ranked 3, and then Le Berre.

The final was sailed in 12–15 knots of breeze. Racing was extremely tight with boat handling at a premium. But in the end a good spinnaker hoist at the final windward mark gave Macgregor’s team just enough space to take the final race and the championship.

Overall Results:

1. Lucy Macgregor (GBR)
2. Sabrini Gurioli (ITA)
3. Anne-Claire Le Berre (FRA)
4. Lotte Meldgaard Petersen (DEN)
5. Julie Bossard (FRA)
6. Silke Hahlbrok (GER)
7. Christelle Phillipe (FRA)
8. Rita Goncalves (POR)
9. Sandra Azon (ESP)
10. Maija Saijonmaa (FIN)

Thursday saw us begin to excel in lighter breeze of only 5knots. The draw put us against Christelle Philippe in the best of 5 quarter-final. After winning the first start we cruised through our races winning 3–0 and progressing us through to the semi-finals against Lotte Meldgard Pedersen. The semis saw another strong performance by our team, again winning 3–0 from the best of 5 series.

It was a brilliant feeling knowing we were through to the finals specially having worked so hard and having come so far as a team to get there. We also knew that the journey was far from over and we’d be disappointed if we just came away with second. Sure enough the journey was far from over and we were in for a thrilling five race final against the Italian team skippered by Sabrina Gurioli.

During the first race it remained light winds and after an equal start we held slightly more speed to gain the lead and extend throughout the race to win. 1–0 Macgregor. Sabrina pulled back however in the 2^nd and 3^rd races after poor starts by me. 1–2 Gurioli. The pressure was now mounting, knowing that one slip up could give Sabrina the race win and overall title in a building sea breeze. After another equal start in the 4^th race and what seemed like a never ending tacking duel where Imogen, Ally and Holly put in a simply brilliant effort, we managed to give Sabrina a penalty at the final windward mark giving us a slight advantage. A better hoist from Sabrina put us equal going down the final run and all our focus was on not getting ‘hooked’ and getting a penalty ourselves. After a couple of huge swerves and near misses we were able to regain control and surf to the finish to put the scores equal and everything depending on the final race. 2–2 back to square one. The decider race and the breeze had now built to 15knots with chop and certainly, tensions were high! During the pre-start we got into circles with Sabrina and with 2knots of tide running through the course the big decision was when to break out of the circles and head for the start line. After a great call from Ally we broke first and had a great start with a solid cover on Sabrina. Although the Italians kept the pressure on we were able to keep cover, stick to basics and stay between the opposition and the finish line to cross the line first and as 2008 European Champions!