Please select your home edition
Edition
Palm Beach Motor Yachts

Casa Vela Cup 2025 at St Francis Yacht Club - Day 3

by Women's WMRT 31 May 06:57 UTC May 28-31, 2025

Defending women's match racing world champion Pauline Courtois and her Match in Pink Normandy Elite team from France will meet USA's Nicole Breault/ Vela Racing in the final of the 2025 Casa Vela Cup in San Francisco, the opening stage of the 2025 Women's World Match Racing Tour.

Both teams secured their spots in tomorrow's event final after two hard-fought semi-final matches against their respective opponents, Julia Aartsen/ Team out of the Box from the Netherlands, and Sweden's Anna Östling/ Team Wings.

In the first semi-final pairing between Courtois and Aartsen in the first-to-three point match, it was Aartsen and crew that managed to break Courtois's undefeated race wins in the event by securing the first race. But Courtois and the Match in Pink team proved too much of a match for Aartsen as the French team skilfully defended their positions at the starts and in the numerous upwind tacking duels to win the next three races straight and, advance to the final with a 3-1 defeat over their Dutch opponents.

It was a day of redemption in the second semi-final match between local San Francisco sailor Nicole Breault/ Vela Racing and Sweden's Anna Östling/ Team Wings. The two skippers met in the semi-finals of the same event in 2023 where Östling and crew defeated Breault 3-2 in a five-race semi-final match. Today, however, the shoe was on the other foot as the 2-2 match went to a deciding race for the spot in the final.

Breault led Östling around the first mark and as Östling hoisted their spinnaker to give chase, the spinnaker halyard slipped allowing Breault to stretch a lead. Despite a late downwind broach by Breault on the final leg, the USA team was able to maintain the lead over the line and bank a 3-2 result to advance to the final.Östling and Aartsen will now meet in the petit-final to decide the 3rd podium position. The remaining six teams completed their sail off matches this afternoon with USA's Allie Blecher/ Team Baam finishing fifth, and Lindsey Baab in sixth place.

The final day of the Casa Vela Cup starts tomorrow at the later time of 1130 local time with race viewing and commentary from the terrace of the St Francis Yacht Club. It is the second time the St Francis Yacht Club has played host to the opening stage of the Women's World Match Racing Tour, managed by Race Director Felix Weidling.

"I'm delighted that at this high-level and internationally competitive event, all four represented nations - France, the Netherlands, Sweden, and the USA - made it into the top 4 today" commented Weidling. "This is not only a testament to the exceptionally high level of athletic performance, but also a reflection of the international strength, diversity, and unity in women's sailing. Results like these show how much the sport thrives on global exchange, mutual respect, and sporting excellence - all of the teams' passion, skill, and team spirit have made this regatta an unforgettable experience."

The winner of tomorrow's 2025 Casa Vela Cup will also win a week's stay for the whole team and guests at 'Casa Vela' a hand built 450 m2 (5000 sq ft) four bedroom treehouse on the beach near Playa del Carmen, Mexico

Follow live results at www.matchracingresults.com/2025/wwmrt-casa-vela-cup

For more information on the Women's World Match Racing Tour, visit Casa Vela Cup 2025.

Related Articles

Fishing: Patterning brown bass
Post-spawn through summer smallies Whitewater Fishing B.A.S.S. tournament pro, Alex Redwine, talks fishing the transition period Posted on 26 Jun
2025 Bahamas Fly-fishing Tournament Series
Anglers to compete across some of The Bahamas' top bonefishing spots The Bahamas Ministry of Tourism, Investments & Aviation announced the launch of Bonefishing Tournament Series that will showcase diverse pristine flats across four islands - Grand Bahama, Andros, Eleuthera and the championship round will be held in Exuma Posted on 20 Jun
Mote leads seagrass restoration initiative
Florida legislature establishes the Seagrass Restoration Technology Development Initiative Seagrasses play a crucial role in the health and resilience of Florida's coastal ecosystems. They provide nursery habitats for keystone species and stabilize shorelines and sediments. Posted on 20 Jun
Maritimo M50 Flybridge & S60 Sedan Video
We speak to Maritimo's Neil McCabe & Phil Candler We talked to Neil McCabe, Maritimo's Design Office Manager, and Phil Candler, Maritimo's General Manager Operations, to find out more about the M50 Flybridge and S60 Sedan during the Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show. Posted on 17 Jun
“I'm living my dad's dream”
Carl made sure to provide young Kyle the chance to be a seasoned pond hopper Carl Cortiana is about to turn 70, but he still remembers the days four decades ago when he'd cast a practice plug across the living room floor and his toddler son, Kyle, now a highly accomplished Vexus pro on the MLF Toyota Series. Posted on 14 Jun
Stories From The Salt - Ep.6
Insights from PENN's top anglers Whether you're a passionate saltwater angler who eagerly dedicates every spare moment to being out on the water, or you simply enjoy watching the techniques and experiences of others, we invite you to anchor up and learn some valuable insights Posted on 14 Jun
Bulwarks and Bulldust – watch Episode Six
Episode Six is now live - Are boat shows still relevant? Episode Six - asks the question, 'Are boat shows still Relevant?' We also offer some thoughts on changes and updates. The final episode of Series One is now live Posted on 13 Jun
Scania, Viking showcase renewable diesel
Mack Attack shows outstanding efficiency without compromise in performance of Scania V8 Engines Scania, one of the world's leading manufacturers of engines, announced today the successful demonstration of the performance and viability of renewable marine diesel fuel in a Viking 48 Convertible powered by twin Scania 1,150 HP DI16-liter V8 engines. Posted on 10 Jun
Sportfishing industry applauds decision by NOAA
Elimination of proposed South Atlantic bottomfishing closure The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Fisheries withdrew the proposed bottomfishing closure from Amendment 59 to the Fishery Management Plan for the Snapper-Grouper Fishery of the South Atlantic. Posted on 10 Jun
Marine Auctions: June online auctions
Bidding to open on Friday 20th June The Bidding for the June Online Auction will commence on Thursday 20th June and will end on Thursday 26th June at 2pm AEST. Posted on 7 Jun
Palm Beach Motor YachtsMaritimo M50