News

UNDERDOG BARKOW WINS BOATU.S. 2004 ISAF

WOMEN'S MATCH RACING WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP

ANNAPOLIS, Maryland, USA --- In a stunning upset, American Sally Barkow took first place this Saturday at the BoatU.S. 2004 ISAF Women's Match Racing World Championship. Sailing with Barkow were the other two members of her Yngling team, Long Islander Debbie Capozzi and Carrie Howe from Detroit, along with Briton Annie Lush; this team also had won last year's Rolex International Keelboat Championship.

Ranked 27th by the International Sailing Federation in women's match racing, Wisconsin native Barkow came into the regatta as a relative dark horse at the bottom of the list of the 16 top international contenders. She sailed strongly from the beginning and emerged from the double round robin phase Friday in first with scores of 11-4 in the first round and 12-3 in the second. Only four flights of the semi-final stage and none of the final matches could be completed when the breeze died early Saturday afternoon and the regatta's outcome was made final.

On Friday afternoon Barkow had knocked out fellow American Elizabeth Kratzig in two straight races to win her quarter-final series, then defeated French sailor Claire Leroy in their first match of the semi-finals.

The remainder of the semi-final series was postponed late Friday after a member of Betsy Alison's team was hit by the boom before the start and was rushed to the hospital; fortunately, she was not seriously injured and was able to rejoin the team for more semi-final racing on Saturday.

As the semi-final action unfolded Saturday, Alison defeated Bermuda Olympic sailor Paula Lewin in the remaining match of the first flight. In the second flight, Barkow again defeated Leroy, while Lewin bested Alison. In the third and fourth flights, Barkow lost to Leroy, while Alison and Lewin again split, leaving the scores even at two points each for all four contenders. The series had been scheduled as a best-three-of-five; the wind died off shortly after 2 p.m., however, and no further racing could be completed.

Final standings among the top eight skippers were determined based on a complex series of calculations of tie-breakers and points earned throughout the regatta, while the lower eight remained in the positions they earned during the double round robin. Five-time Rolex Yachtswoman of the Year Alison emerged from the calculations in second overall, with Leroy third and Lewin fourth.

The regatta, hosted by Eastport Yacht Club and sailed in J/22 sloops, began on Sunday, June 6. For more information go to http://www.santamariacup.org.

Final Standings

1. Sally Barkow, USA

2. Betsy Alison, USA

3. Claire Leroy, France

4. Paula Lewin, Bermuda

5. Lotte Meldgaard Pedersen, Denmark

6. Katie Spithill, Australia

7. Liz Baylis, USA

8. Elizabeth Kratzig, USA

9. Jenny Axhede, Sweden

10. Carol Cronin, USA

11. Deb Willits, USA

12. Christelle Philippe, France

13. Sabrina Gurioli, Italy

14. Linda Rahm, Sweden

15. Nina Braestrup, Denmark

16. Marie Faure, France