Local knowledge pays

As Paula Lewin comes out on top at Bermuda International Women's Match Race

Bermuda’s Paula Lewin/Team ACE continued her winning ways today on Hamilton Harbour by collecting two straight wins to remain undefeated in the Bermuda International Women's Match Race Championship, an ISAF grade 1 event. Despite spending the past year traveling the world with her Olympic Yngling campaign, Lewin proved that she is still at the top of her match racing game by defeating two of the world’s most accomplished skippers, Betsy Alison/Team Challenge US (USA) and Jenny Axhede/Team Panorama (SWE).

"We’re very pleased with our results," said Lewin. "We had some tough matches and things went our way."

Axhede lost only one race, to Lewin, and handily defeated Elizabeth Kratzig/Team Kaenon (USA), who now sits with two wins, two losses.

"We had a good start against Paula," said Annika Carlunger, speaking on behalf of Jenny Axhede. "Then the tiller got caught and we had two penalties. We took the first but were so far behind and couldn’t get back to her."

Alison, a five-time Rolex Yachtswoman of the Year, suffered two defeats today, the second to Kratzig. Alison controlled the pre-start, pushing Kratzig over the line early and leading around the racecourse. On the second downwind leg, Alison mistakenly shot past the leeward mark toward the finish line and quickly realized that the course was six legs, not four as in the previous flight. Kratzig took advantage of the opening, rounded the mark and stretched to win the race.

"It’s been a long week and we’ve only been sailing two days," laughed Alison, who received the day’s ‘Bacardi O’ award for the gaff. "I guess we forgot how to count. We sailed to the finish, had to turn back and go around the leeward mark, which wasn’t fast. We’re not slow by any stretch and we’re having a great time."

Texan Deborah Willits won her matches, the first against Sandy Hayes (USA) and the second against Sally Barkow/Team Seven (USA). Barkow convincingly beat Klaartje Zuiderbaan in the first match of the day, handing the Dutch team their fourth straight loss.

Racing continues through Tuesday in International One Design class sloops.

The top four highest scoring skippers in the Round Robin will qualify for the Semi-Final Round, which is scheduled for Tuesday, with the Final Round to follow. The winner and runner-up will advance to round one of the Investors Guaranty™ Presentation of the King Edward VII Gold Cup (October 22-26).

BERMUDA INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S MATCH RACING CHAMPIONSHIP

Preliminary Results: Day 2, October 19, Four flights of Round Robin:

Skipper, Hometown, Win-Loss Record
Paula Lewin/Team ACE (BER), 4-0
Jenny Axhede/Team Panorama (SWE) 3-1
Deborah Willits (USA) 3-1
Sally Barkow (USA) 2-2
Elizabeth Kratzig (USA) 2-2
Betsy Alison (USA) 1-3
Sandy Hayes (USA) 1-3
Klaartje Zuiderbaan (NED) 0-4

Round Robin Results:

Flight 3, Match 1
J. Axhede def E. Kratzig
S. Barkow def. K. Zuiderbaan
P. Lewin def. B. Alison
D. Willtis def. S. Hayes

Flight 2, Match 1
E. Kratzig def. B Alison
D. Willits def. S. Barkow
S. Hayes def. K. Zuiderbaan
P. Lewin def. J. Axhede