Helsinki Women's Match - Overall

Team Johanna Bergqvist recovering after broaching in the last match of the finals against Trine Palludan's Team Kattnakken © Anton Klock

An exciting final day saw the experienced Danish Team Kattnakken defeat Swedish Team Bergqvist Match Racing in a very blustery final series.

A big change in the weather brought a strong breeze from the north for the final day of racing of the 2018 Helsinki Women's Match, the first event of the 2018 WIM Series. After three days of racing in bright sunshine, the waters of the Kruunuvuorenselkä turned grey and rough for the exciting final matches.

The day began with the semi-finals. The top team from the round robin, Marinella Laaksonen's Finnish L2 Match Racing, had the hard decision of choosing their opponent. They chose Johanna Bergqvist's team, which in hindsight may have been the wrong decision given the semi-final outcome. Bergqvist and her young Swedish team came out fighting and put Laaksonen's team up against the ropes by winning the first two matches. In the must win situation, Laaksonen fought back and leveled the table 2 – 2 setting up a fifth and deciding match. With the spot in the finals on the line, Laaksonen around the first lap, but an unfortunate trolling of the spinnaker at the leeward mark opened the door for Bergqvist to take the lead and hold on until the finish to advance to her first WIM Series final.

In the other semi-final match, a similar scenario set up: Pauline Courtois' Match In Pink By Normandy Elite Team, took the first two matches before Trine Palludan's Team Kattnakken switched on a new gear and evened the score at 2 – 2 setting up another exciting do or die match. The racing was quite close on the first beat, but Courtois was penalized at the first windward mark with an immediate penalty red flag penalty from the umpires for taking room that was not hers to take. By the time Courtois took her penalty, Palludan carried her comfortable lead to the finish and earned her spot in the finals.

By the time the finals and petit-finals were set to go the wind had increased to 17-20 knots with gusts into the mid-twenties – challenging conditions in the powerful 8 meter J/80 boats.

In the petit-final Courtois' team regained their focus after their tough semi-final loss and said "we focused on keeping it simple and working on our boat handling." The strategy worked and they defeated Laaksonen 2 – 0 to take the bronze medal.

In the breezy finals the Danish Team Kattnakken "focused on sailing the shifts and picking our moments to tack and gybe to stay in control" said the tired but happy crew after emerging from a refreshing sauna.

In the third match of the finals, Bergqvist looked well on her way to forcing a fourth match as she had sailed the wind shifts well and gained a comfortable lead, but on the final downwind as they gybed for the finish a huge gust of wind caused an uncontrolled broach. Before they could regain control of their boat, Palludan was able to pass and take the win by one boat length to take the championship.

The day ended with a festive prize giving ceremony at NJK's Blekholmen clubhouse.

2018 Helsinki Women's Match Results:

Finals
Trine Palludan, DEN defeats Johanna Bergqvist, SWE 3 – 0

Petit-Finals
Pauline Courtois, FRA defeats Marinella Laaksonen, FIN 2 – 0

Semi-Finals
Johanna Bergqvist, SWE defeats Marinella Laaksonen, FIN 3 – 2
Trine Palludan, DEN defeats Pauline Courtois, FRA 3 – 2

Final Standings: (Team name – Skipper, Crew – Country)

1. Team Kattnakken - Trine Palludan, Lea Richter Vogelius, Josefine Boel Rasmussen, Vivi Lund Møller, Joan Vestergård Hansen – Denmark
2. Team Bergqvist Match Racing - Johanna Bergqvist, Isabelle Bergqvist, Johanna Thiringer, Ellinor Hansson, Fanny Edgren - Sweden
3. Match in Pink by Normandy Elite Team - Pauline Courtois, Maëlenn Lemaître, Louise Acker, Nathalie Corson, Sophie Faguet - France
4. L2 Match Racing Team - Marinella Laaksonen, Daniela Rönnberg, Camilla Cedercreutz, Henna Holopainen, Eva-Lotta Hokkonen - Finland
5. Team BAAM! - Allie Blecher, Beka Schiff, Katja Sertl, Abby Featherstone, Meg Six - USA
6. Team Sköna Vibbisar - Antonia Degerlund, Carla Westersund, Janina Hallberg, Disa Långström, Lisa Gerkman - Finland
7. NZ Match - Celia Willison, Charlotte Porter, Paige Cook, Erica Dawson, Alison Kent
8. Stockholm Match Racing Team - Sanna Häger, Karin Bäckström, Beata Törneman, Klara Häger, Karin Flinkenberg - Sweden
9. Team Skogman - Jassi Skogman, Julia Jaatela, Tua Jaatela, Katariina Aarnio, Roosa Wederhorn - Finland
10. Matchmoiselles by Normandy Elite Team - Margot Vennin, Marie Zugolaro, Clotilde Ponçon, Jeanne Lebouvier, Sophonie Affagard - France
11. APCC Women Sailing Team - Margot Riou, Clémentine Hilaire, Marion Ledoux, Pétronille Lauzeral, Tiphaine Ragueneau - France
12. Peregrine Racing - Hanna Ericksson, Susu Kukkonen, Sara Edholm, Charlotte Eklund, Raisa Räisänen - Sweden
13. Swedish Women's Match Racing Team - Sanna Mattsson, Niki Blässar, Sarah Rosell, Therese Berg, Louise Lindkvist - Sweden