“Ladies Only 2006“: Women’s Match Race in Hamburg 3rd-5th November 2006

From the 3rd until the 5th of November at the ”Ladies Only“, organised by the Hamburger Segel-Club (HSC). Competitors from all over Europe will show exciting duels boat against boat.
“The European Championship in October was a big success for us and we are looking forward to have high-class female sailors here for our women’s event as well“, stated Manuel Huensch from the HSC, organiser of the “Ladies Only“. Some of the best sailors from Denmark, Great Britain, France, Poland, Finland and Ireland will join the German competitors.
The titleholder Silke Hahlbrock from Hamburg is one of the top favourites.
The 22 years old student is currently ranked sixth in the women’s world match race ranking list. Among others, she will be competing the number eight in the world Josie Gibson from Southampton/Great Britain who wants to take revenge at the “Ladies Only“. Because Silke Hahlbrock sailed against the British team in last years final and won. “It was very close“, said Hahlbrock, “Josie got along with the Streamline very well even though she did not sail the boat before. It won’t be easy to win against the highly competitive teams this year“, adds Hahlbrock, “As everybody learnt a lot in the meantime“. There will be three more German teams fighting for the crown:
Suzanne Willim (34th in the world ranking list), Ulrike Firk (32nd in the world ranking list) and Ulrike Schümann (Vice world champion in the Olympic Yngling-class and number 59 in the Match Race world ranking).

Competitors of the Ladies Only 2006
Ranking, Team, Skippers Name, Country
6 Team Musto HSC Silke Hahlbrock Germany
8 Gibson Josie Gibson GreatBritain
16 Team sail 4 cancer Gemma Farrell Great Britain
17 YCPR Marseille Delphine Casas France
20 Team Ulrikkeholm Camilla Ulrikkeholm Denmark
21 Team Silja Lehtinen Silja Lehtinen Finland
30 O'Laughlin Mary O’Loughlin Ireland
31 Team SW Susanne Ward Denmark
32 GERUF1 Ulrike FirkGermany
34 Kemt Suzanne Willim Germany
36 Czarniawska Maja Czarniawska Poland
59 Schuenn-Crew Ulrike Schümann Germany