Entries open for Marlow Ropes Women's Match Racing Championship 2021
by British Sailing Team 28 Apr 18:40 BST
11-12 September 2021
Marlow Ropes Women's Match Racing Championship © Paul Wyeth / RYA
The Marlow Ropes Women's Match Racing Championship will be returning to Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy over the weekend of 11-12 September 2021.
Entries for this popular fixture in the RYA Match Racing Series are now open for teams of three or four competitors, with windward-leeward racing in one-design Elliott 6M keelboats.
Up to ten teams will be duelling for supremacy and the winners will be selected to represent GB at the 2022 Women's World Match Racing Championship and invited to the RYA National Match Racing Grand Finals at Queen Mary Sailing Club, London, in October 2021.
Paul Honess, Marlow's Leisure Marine Sales Director, said: "We are very proud of our long standing and successful relationship with the RYA Women's Match Racing Championship. It is our philosophy to be involved in events that are developing the next batch of professional sailors and match racing is where a lot of the greats in sailing today have started from. Our partnership with the RYA's National Match Racing Series will ensure our place amongst champions continues."
A combination of close racing and an opportunity for women to race with and against friends makes the championship a great opportunity for both experienced match racers and newcomers. Saturday post racing will also see the return of the ever popular debrief and cocktails with Pimms and Lemonade (or just lemonade) after racing.
Two-times winner of the Marlow Ropes Women's Match Racing Championship, Octavia Owen of Athena Racing and West Kirby SC, is looking forward to taking part again in 2021. "It is a fantastic event, with great competition every year! After attending for the past five years and having the honour of winning twice, I have thoroughly enjoyed the competitive but fun atmosphere every time I have competed," said Octavia.
"The championship has allowed me to constantly learn every time I step in the Elliott 6Ms, which in turn has expanded my match racing knowledge and refined my skills. Furthermore, not only are you able to learn off other sailors, but also sailing the boats in a competitive situation makes a huge difference to how well you sail on the racecourse.
"The event is great as it gives females sailors the confidence to try new skills, roles that they might not get the chance to in other teams and race with a great group of friends, and so I wholeheartedly recommend to everyone to get a team together and have a lovely weekend of match racing!"
Details and entry forms on the RYA website