Top-ranking World Cup sailors compete in Lysekil

Lysekil Women’s Match, the world’s largest match racing competition for women, will be inaugurated in Havsbadsparken in Lysekil on Monday, 28 July. During the rest of the week, 29 July – 2 August, the popular and crowd-pleasing races will be held in Kyrkeviksbukten. This year’s match racing skippers come from France, Denmark, Australia, Germany, the US and Italy, Sweden will be represented by last year’s winner Linda Rahm, Team Stena Bulk, Jenny Axhede and Anna Kjellberg. Stena Bulk and Preem Petroleum are the main sponsors of the competition, which is in its fourth year.

Program
In addition to the daily races, there will be entertainment during the week provided by, among others, Tommy Nilsson, E.M.D. and Eric Gadd. On Tuesday, 29 July at 18.00, Swedish MPs will take part in a debate, with the theme ”Sun, wind and water”, on energy and the environment with a focus on renewable energy and sustainable development. On Monday, the media will also be given the opportunity to take part in the final training session, together with some of the participants.
The competition
Lysekil Women’s Match is the world’s largest match racing event for women with a SEK 400,000 prize purse to be divided between the participating teams, Next year, 2009, Lysekil Women’s Match will have World Championship status. ”A combination of a high athletic level and great public interest” was one of the reasons why Lysekil was selected ahead of several other competitors.
The boats
DS 37 boats (length: 11.25 m, width: 3.20 m, draft: 2.10 m and weight: 3,900 kg) will be sailed in the races. Although the boats are identical, lots will be drawn every day to decide which team gets which boat.
Match racing
The races are relatively brief, about 20-25 minutes, but very intensive. The winner is the first boat to cross the finishing line. Making quick tactical decisions and smart manoeuvres are important. The boats sail twice round a course that starts with a windward tack and finishes in a following wind.

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The arrangers in Lysekil are Sailnet Lysekil AB in collaboration with Lysekils SS Gullmar. The main sponsors are Preem and Stena Bulk (together with its sister company Concordia Maritime), while Carpe Diem Beds of Sweden, Ridderheims Delikatesser, Evidens and Musto are partners.
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See also www.lysekilwomensmatch.se