Björling still supreme after nine months off

Swedish sailor wins women's division at Swedish Match Cup

For the third time in a row the women's division Swedish Match Cup has been won Marie Björling, who defeated Danish Lotte Meldgaard Pedersen with three wins to zero in the final off Marstrand today.

Aside from their win Björling and Team Panorama representing the organising club, GKSS, get 84 000 SEK (£6,100) in prize-money to be shared between the girls on board.

The three races today of the women's final were held in unpleasant conditions - rain and brisk winds and saw the lead shifted several times between Björling and Lotte Meldgaard Pedersen and her Team Gerimax from KDY, Copenhagen, Denmark.

"We really didn't feel like we were dominating today," Björling said afterward.

Pedersen gave her view of the outcome: "Marie didn't make any mistake today, thus she won. We had it a little bit harder to get everything in order and to manage to do the manoeuvres."

Sailing with Björling in her Team Panorama crew were Anna Holmdahl, tactician, Jenny
Axhede on genoa trim, Elin Åderman on mast, Elisabeth Nilsson on pit and Annika Carlunger on the bow. This was Björling's first regatta after nine months of maternity leave.

Pedersen at present leads the world's women's ranking and was sailing with trimmers Sille Christensen, Anette Rom and Caroline Clausen, Anne Mörup mainsheet and Mia Nielsen on the bow. The question now is 'when' more than 'if' Marie can regain the number one slot in the world rankings.

"The crew has kept going on without me, with Jenny Axhede as helmsman, which probably is the main reason we manage to keep this level," reflects Björling, who will attend her next competition in Lysekil on 3-8 August.

Result after the final at Swedish Match Cup, women's class:
Marie Björling, SWE/Team Panorama - Lotte Meldgaard Pedersen, DEN, 3-0

Result after the petite final at Swedish Match Cup, women's class:
Claire Leroy, FRA - Betsy Alison, USA, 2-0