Today was an extremely testing day at the conclusion of the Women’s event at Stena Match Cup Sweden, plagued by a lack of breeze. This morning saw the start of the Men’s event, though there was a long delay waiting for wind and then they only managed to get two flights in. Next followed the “pro–am” race, allowing sponsors and their guests to sail with crews from the top match race teams in a fleet race competition, before the Women’s finals and petit finals could begin.
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 :)
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