Reigning world champion Claire Leroy had performed excellently throughout the Lysekil Women's Match but in the final against Swede Linda Rahm, the defending champion, the Frenchwoman, wasn't good enough.

Linda started with two victories, Claire broke back taking two matches, and then Linda in the fifth match secured her second straight title.

'We're simply better when it really counts. I feel so happy', Linda shouted, praising her crew for their skills and team work.

'They had to repair my poor starts a number of times. I don't think we have ever sailed as fast as this before,' she laughs.

'We won all the starts and made a great come back after Linda's first two victories, but she had better speed than us so it was hard to stay in front,'Leroy comments.

The final matches of Lysekil Women's Match were really thrilling and exciting for the large audience on the cliffs of the beautiful Swedish west coast archipelago.

Final Match 1:Claire Leroy started well ahead, lead all the way round the course but was passed just before the finishing line by Linda Rahm, who won by half a boatlength.

Final Match 2:Rahm was penalised in the start, when both the competitors were in tight manouvers just metres from the crowded spectator cliffs. Linda started late, but soon gained distance on Claire and managed to take her penalty. On the last downwind, Claire lost ground, Linda to passed and won by a small margin.

Final Match 3:Heavier winds and a three lap course. It was a very tight match with a short distance between the boats and several times the lead changed. Leroy got penalised but managed to make her turn at the last rounding, without letting Rahm pass her. In spite of intense attacks from Linda Rahm during the last downwind, Claire Leroy won the match.

Final Match 4:Linda was very aggressive in the prestart, getting penalised twice and having to make one of the turns immediately. She started far behind Claire, but managed to gain 25 seconds, take her remaining penalty and keep in contact. After an intense fight on the last downwind, Claire wons the match by just inches.

Final Match 5:Rahm gained a little advantage in the start, but Leroy was ahead when they meet the first time. Leroy had a bad first spinnaker set, and Rahm crept away a little. Rahm maintained her lead for the rest of the match, winning the Lysekil Women's Match for the second year in a row.

'I think this will help us advance on the world ranking' Linda says, soaking wet from champagne and a bath in the harbour.

Before the final Claire Leroy had only lost two matches, but for the third time she was now placed second in Lysekil Women's Match. 'We have now been so close so many times that it must be our turn next year when the world championship is to be sailed here in Lysekil,' Claire says.

In the petit final experienced Dane Lotte Meldgaard Pedersen defeated the young Lucy Macgregor from Great Britain in two straight matches.

'We turned 0-2 to 2-2 in the semi final against Linda, but then we lost the fifth deciding match. We have to get back next year and do better then,' Lotte says.

'We are pleased to reach the semi finals, it has been a great experience. We really enjoyed the event and we would definitely like to come back,' Lucy Macgregor says.

Semifinal results:
Claire Leroy, FRA, 3 - Lucy Macgregor, GBR, 0
Linda Rahm, SWE, 3 - Lotte Meldgaard Pedersen, DEN, 2

Matches for third prize:
Lotte Meldgaard Pedersen, DEN, 2 - Lucy Macgregor, GBR, 0

Total results in Lysekil Women's Match 2008, with prize money:
1. Linda Rahm, SWE, SEK 100 000, ? 10 463
2. Claire Leroy, FRA, SEK 62 000, ? 6 487
3. Lotte Meldgaard Pedersen, DEN, SEK 51 000, ? 5 336
4. Lucy Macgregor, GBR, SEK 42 000, ?4 394
5. Jenny Axhede, SWE, SEK 37 000, ? 3 871
6. Katie Spithill, AUS, SEK 32 000, ? 3 348
7. Camilla Ulrikkeholm, DEN, SEK 28 000, ? 2 929
8. Anna Kjellberg, SWE, SEK 20 000, ? 2 092
9. Silke Hahlbrock, GER, SEK 16 000, ? 1 674
10. Elisabeth Baylis, USA, SEK 12 000, ? 1 255
11. Sabrina Gurioli, ITA
12. Anne-Claire Le Berre, FRA

Following her victory in Match Cup Sweden on Marstrand and ending second in Lysekil Women's Match, Claire Leroy also won the Marstrand Lysekil Women's Double trophy.

www.lysekilwomensmatch.se

by Event media/Sail-World

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