Calpe Wommen Criterium ISAF Gr. 1

Source: www.sailing.org

Racing at the ISAF Grade 1 International Women Match Race Criterium gets underway tomorrow, with World number one Claire LEROY (FRA) leading the field of top women match racers in Calpe, Spain.

Up against LEROY will be the Dutch team that beat her in the final last year lead by Klaartje ZUIDERBAAN. Also back this year is 2005 bronze medallist and number four in the ISAF World Match Race Rankings Nina BRAESTRUP (DEN).

Second place for LEROY last year, and crucially a semi-final victory over Marie BJÖRLING (SWE), lifted the Frenchwoman to the top of the World Rankings, a position she has held ever since. It was to be one of the high points of a great year for LEROY which culminated in a nomination for the ISAF Rolex World Sailor of the Year Award.

Completing The Line Up
Also lining up this week is 2004 winner and runner up, Jenny AXHEDE (SWE) and Lotte MELDGAARD PEDERSEN (DEN) respectively, along with bronze medallist from 2003, Sabrina GURIOLI (ITA). France’s Christelle PHILIPPE will also be battling for honours along with Denmark’s Camila ULRIKKEHOLM, Germany’s Silke HAHLBROCK and Sandy HAYES from the USA. A local entrant will also represent the home hopes.

The waters of Calpe will make for a stunning venue, as part of a Spanish Nature reserve with the famous Costa Brava landmark of el Peñon de Ifach, the largest single rock in the Mediterranean, forming an imposing backdrop to the action on the water.

With six of the competitors also set to line up next month at the Dexia Private Banking ISAF Women’s Match Racing World Championship in Copenhagen, Denmark, the action in Calpe could prove a useful form guide to the upcoming battle for the World title.

International Women Match Race Criterium Entrants
(- ISAF World Match Race Ranking)

Claire LEROY (FRA) - 1
Nina BRAESTRUP (DEN) - 4
Klaartje ZUIDERBAAN (NED) - 5
Jenny AXHEDE (SWE) - 6
Lotte MELDGAARD PEDERSEN (DEN) - 7
Christelle PHILIPPE (FRA) - 9
Silke HAHLBROCK (GER) - 15
Sandy HAYES (USA) - 20
Camila ULRIKKEHOLM (DEN) - 23
Louise BIENVENU (USA) - 61
Sabrina GURIOLI (ITA) - 84
One Spanish entrant