The women started around 4pm in a light breeze, first up was us against Ekaterina Skudina (RUS) in the petit finals where we won the start and lead comfortably around the course to a 1–0 lead. The final was Claire Leroy (FRA) against Anna Tunnicliffe (USA) who gained early control of their first match and lead around the course only to be overtaken in the last 30 seconds of the race.

With the breeze starting to die away we began our second of the three petit finals matches (first to two wins). We controlled Skudina for almost all of the pre-start though unfortunately let her slip away to the starboard end in the last 20 seconds. Having control of the dominant right hand side they extended to a small lead which in the light breeze we sadly couldn’t challenge, so the score drew level at 1–1. In the final, Leroy touched the starting mark earning her a penalty, and despite two or three changes of lead a win to Tunnicliffe also drew them level at 1–1.

We started the third and deciding match at about 6pm, in conditions where the number one priority is keeping the boat moving. After a pretty even pre-start it was neck and neck as we made slow progress up the first beat, however a big right hand shift turned it into a one tack drag race and as such the match was abandoned.

With the course re-set and what little wind left quickly disappearing we tried again starting at about 6.30 though half way up the beat the wind shut down completely leaving us barely moving. Abandoned again, and so with both the petit finals and finals all even on 1–1 the waiting game began…

Eventually there was a glimmer of hope as the tiniest ripples appeared on the water, and at 7.30 we went back into sequence again in proper drifting conditions. We timed our run in to the start to perfection, starting just to leeward but almost a length ahead of Skudina. This allowed us to control the beat and rounded the windward mark ahead but with the Russians hot on our heels. In the very light winds it’s extremely hard to defend down wind and if close enough the trailing boat often has a big advantage in dictating when to gybe. Indeed in a simultaneous gybe they managed to roll over the top us and take a two length lead, leaving us dead in the water. This proved to be the decisive move as although we caught up again a little the opportunities in the extremely light breeze to challenge are few an far between. So Ekaterina Skudina of Russia took the petit finals and the bronze medal defeating us 2–1.

The final match of the finals was a real nail-biter, eventually finishing in real ghosting conditions at just after 8pm. Tunnicliffe lead initially, though Leroy clawed back on the first beat only to be given a penalty for tacking too close. Tunnicliffe lead around the first windward mark, though Leroy did an excellent gybe set and rolled the Americans to take the lead down wind. In the second beat Leroy eeked out enough of a lead to take her penalty, though not quite as she was judged to have fouled Tunnicliffe while making the turn and gained an advantage in doing so. This earned them another penalty, this time a red flag penalty, indicating that they must take another penalty turn immediately! Tunniclffe rounded the final mark ahead, but a masterful display of down wind sailing saw the French overhaul the Americans once again and drift across the finish line to take the overall title at Stena Match Cup Sweden 2–1.

In other news, the latest latest edition of the ISAF Women’s Match Racing World Rankings were released today, where the Match Race Girls maintain their position at Number 1 :)

This week we have had a good 3 days training in Weymouth with some up-and-coming Kiwi guys who are in Europe for the Match race tour this summer. They have had a lot of experience in the Elliotts so they were able to whip us into shape a bit in the 15knots we had most of the week.

Tomorrow we are loading two of our boats to go and be used for the Delta Lloyd Regatta in Holland, however we will not be competing there because we have chosen to focus on Weymouth and the Skandia Sail for Gold Regatta which takes place at the being of June.

After tomorrow we have a few days off to play with our new Volvo, thanks to Team Volvo for Life, then we’re back to Weymouth to play with our pair of brand new boats! (suggestions for names anyone?!)

Stay tuned…

Kate x

After having Nicky Muller stand in for the the last regatta in Holland, we have been reunited with Annie this week and are having a really productive week training in Weymouth. On Monday and Tuesday Annie hadn’t quite made it back so Ally and I were joined by guest star Charlotte Lawrence for a bit of time and distance work then Annie joined us yesterday and we’ve had some good boat handling sessions with a great mix of breeze. Unfortunately for me today I took a little swim while doing a tacking exercise, the toe strap disappearing before me at just the wrong time! Tomorrow we’ll be out again then we’ll be starting preparations for our next World Cup event in Kiel, Germany starting at the end of next week.

I can hear the rain starting outside…lets hope that fades before tomorrows training!

Lucy x

In other news you may have seen the feature article in the Financial Times Magazine, and check out our interview on The Daily Sail. We’ve also been voted “sailors of the month” on the Skandia Team GBR Support Crew website.

There has been no rest since returning to the country last weekend as we are training with the Skandia Team GBR squad in Weymouth this week… might try and have some time off next week.

For the last two years we’ve dedicated ourselves full-time as professional athletes to the new Olympic discipline of match racing, developing a rigorous training programme and consistently achieving good results at top level events around the world. Our efforts have been rewarded as we’ve been steadily climbing the world rankings, and it’s a great feeling to have finally ended Claire Leroy’s four and a half year reign in the top spot.

We’re now looking forward to another busy season ahead, and hope to continue enjoying great competition and improving our game in the Elliott 6m — the new Olympic Class in which we hope to be representing GBR at Portland and Weymouth in  2012.

Please download the full press release for further details.

Lucy

2010 will be busy year for us starting with a weeks training in Palma and then straight off to Miami to prepare for the Rolex Miami Olympic Classes Regatta, the first event in the 2010 ISAF World Cup Series. Following Miami we’ll be back to Palma for training until the European season begins with Princess Sofia Regatta at the end of March. There are a total of 6 World Cup events which we will compete in, the series finale being in the 2012 Olympic venue at Weymouth for the Sail for Gold Regatta in August. As well as the World Cup events our other focus for the year will be the ISAF Women’s World Match Racing Championships to be held at Rhode Island, New York in September.

Having finished 2009 ranked #2 in the World and winning the ISAF World Cup Series, Annie, Ally and I had a fantastic year and intend to keep that momentum through to 2010 with aim of topping the World rankings and winning the World Cup Series again. With the support of Skandia Team GBR, The City Livery Yacht Club, Jenkins Marine, Morris Lane and Spinnaker Yachts we can’t wait to get back on the water and continue our campaign to winning Gold at the Olympics in 2012 – Just 936 days to go!

Happy sailing, Lucy x

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

“The biggest move at the top again comes from British skipper Lucy Macgregor, who completed the podium with a third place finish in Miami. The 2008 European Women’s Match Racing Champion only broke in to the world top 10 in October last year, but hasn’t taken long to make a big impact and shake up the more experienced names around her. Her bronze medal performance at the second event of the ISAF Sailing World Cup boosts her up two places in this release to a career-best Ranking of #3.”

— ISAF, 4^th March 2009

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.