Björling misses out

Swedish favour doesn't make the semis at the Lysekil Women's Match

Lotte Meldgaard Pedersen, Team HSH Nordbank, from Denmark, had an excellent day beating her five close rivals in the second Round Robin of the Lysekil Women's Match. French Claire Leroy, Team Ideactor and the two Swedes Linda Rahm, Team Daros, and Malin Millbourn, Team Santa Maria, also made it to the semi finals, but the Swedish favourite and defending champion, Marie Björling, Team Schenker, did not get it right today and missed her place.

It was a tough blow for Marie Björling to miss the semi finals, who sailed really strong and convincing in the first Round Robin. "We didn’t sail our very best today and we didn’t get the edge we needed in the starts. You have to get everything right to manage to beat the opponents we had today," said a disappointed Björling.

Six very close teams battled for the four places in the semi finals in tight matches in the light westerly winds. Lotte Meldgaard Pedersen, ranked eight on the world ranking list, had her best day so far with only one loss to Linda Rahm. She was the only one to beat the outstanding French Claire Leroy in the most exciting match so far - from the outset it was extremely tight between the two rivals. The prestarts and starts were of great importance today, and the competitors had to take a strong current into consideration in the light winds.

The semi finals will start this afternoon and continue tomorrow.
The finals will also be determined tomorrow.

Semi final pairings (best out of three):
Lotte Meldgaard Pedersen DEN vs Malin Millbourn SWE
Claire Leroy FRA vs Linda Rahm SWE

Result Round Robin 2 – top four to semifinals:
1. Lotte Meldgaard Pedersen DEN/Team HSH Nordbank 4 wins - 1 loss
2. Claire Leroy FRA/Team Ideactor 4 – 1
2. Linda Rahm SWE/Team Daros 3 - 2
4. Malin Millbourn SWE/Team Santa Maria 2 - 3

5. Marie Björling SWE/Team Schenker 2 – 3
6. Camilla Ulrikkeholm DEN/Team CU 0 - 5

Results sail-offs between 7-12
7. Klaartje Zuiderbaan
8. Giulia Conti
9. Jessica Smyth
10. Josie Gibson
11. Ulrike Firk
12. Martina Karlemo