Anna Kjellberg Crowned ISAF Women's Match Racing World Champion

As Olympic sailor and World #2 Anna Kjellberg crossed the finish line, the cheer that erupted from the Swedish spectators at Camden Fort Meagher could be heard echoing across Cork Harbour. Kjellberg, together with her crew Karin Almquist, Vanja Lundberg and Annika Carlunger had defeated World #1 Camilla Ulrikkeholm in the final of the 2014 ISAF Women's Match Racing World Championships.

"This is absolutely incredible. The last few weeks of my life have been completely crazy, giving birth to my daughter just five weeks ago and now this" the Swedish skipper remarked.

Over five days 13 teams competed in a physically gruelling 140 race regatta in winds averaging 15 knots. Both Kjellberg and Denmark's Ulrikkeholm skilfully sailed through the knock out stages to make it to the final duel on Sunday (08 June). Three victories were needed to win the coveted title and the prime cut of the €10,000 prize fund.

Ulrikkeholm gained an early advantage by winning the first match of the final. Strong but very shifting winds, together with a swift current, put the sailors to the test. The second clash ended in a fierce fight around the course but Kjellberg kept control and finished one boat length ahead of her opponent. When the Swedes won the third match they put Ulrikkeholm under immense pressure. In the fourth match the Danes got away ahead, but didn't cover the Swedes well enough on the second upwind. Kjellberg was allowed to tack away for clear air, found an advantageous wind shift and passed into a leading position which she was able to maintain to the finish.

"We've improved in every match during this regatta, and we know that in match racing it's never over until it's over. I think we had the right nerves today, with a rather calm feeling in the boat even when the competition was tough," Kjellberg analysed after her golden match.

On her loss Ulrikkeholm commented, "In these conditions it was hard also to be ahead. We made some mistakes not covering the Swedes enough, and then we didn't have as good boat handling as the other days of the regatta."

Kjellberg's bowman Annika Carlunger had no less than seven World Championship silver medals before this regatta, sailing with different helmsmen over the years. Now she got her eagerly awaited gold medal and shouted after having passed the finish line, "Finally, after all these years."

In the Petit Final Caroline Sylvan (SWE) put up a tough fight against Stephanie Roble (USA), but the American crew proved to be strongest at the end. With two straight wins they secured the bronze in the 2014 ISAF Women's Match Racing World Championship, the first event out of five on the 2014 Women's International Match Racing Series.

"We never felt comfortably in control, but my team did an awesome job all the way around the course," said Roble who praised her crew.

"We've done some fantastic races, and we're proud to be the second Swedish crew in the top four of this Championship," Sylvan smiled, not too disappointed.

Final Results
1st Anna Kjellberg, Karin Almquist, Vanja Lundberg, Annika Carlunger - Sweden
2nd Camilla Ulrikkeholm, Trine Palludan, Louise Ulrikkeholm, Joan Vestergهrd Hansen - Denmark
3rd Stephanie Roble, Janel Zarkowsky, Maggie Shea, Lara Dallman9Weiss - USA
4th Caroline Sylvan, Therese Wolgast, Louise Kruuse af Verchou, My Karlsten - Sweden
5th Anne9Claire Le Berre, Morgane Fountaine, Julie Gerecht, Anne Goasguen - France
6th Klaartje Zuiderbaan, Mijke Lievens, Kim Platteeuw, Lena Koter - Netherlands
7th Lotte Meldgaard Pedersen, Anne Sophie Monk, Tina Gramkov, Nina Grunow - Denmark
8th Claudia Pierce, Diana Kissane, Isabella Morehead, Ellen Cahill - New Zealand
9th Annabel Vose, Emily Nagel, Suzy Russell, Hannah Peters - UK
10th Mary O'Loughlin, Lynn Reilly, Caoimhe Burns, Niamh McDonald - Ireland
11th Laura Dillon, Maria Coleman, Carol O'Kelly, Kate Nagle - Ireland
12th Lucie Scheiwiller, Clara Scheiwiller, Laure Ferchaud, Juliette Le Friec, Juliette Dubreuil - France
13th Anne Christianne Kentgens, Rikst Dijkstra, Rozan Gilles, Fettje Osinga - Netherlands