Day 2 Report ISAF Women's Match Racing World Championships In Cork

Another day of picture perfect conditions greeted the sailors in Crosshaven today (05 June) for Day 2 of the 2014 ISAF Women's Match Racing World Championship. Although the wind was a little light to begin with in the morning, the sun glistened off the pristine waters of Cork Harbour and the south-easterly picked up to a steady 10-12 knots in the afternoon leading to some thrilling racing for the sailors.

For eight straight hours the top international teams went head-to-head while spectators watched from the natural perch provided by Camden Fort Meagher. A staggering 42 races were sailed for what was the second day of the Round-Robin stage in the regatta. Only the top eight teams were going to progress forward to tomorrow's quarter finals so the slightest error aboard the fleet of J80 keelboats could have had dramatic consequences.

Overnight leader and World #1 Camilla Ulrikkeholm had a further five wins today increasing her total number of victories so far to 10. However, in an exciting turn of events fellow Dane Lotte Meldgaard Pedersen and France's Anne-Claire Le Berre also finished the Round-Robin having only conceded two loses a piece. This meant that the umpires had to analyse each race result and competitor rankings in order to settle the three-way-tie-break. Ultimately it was Ulrikkeholm who retained her spot at the top of the leader board followed by Meldgaard Pedersen in second and Le Berre in third.

Two teams were sailing under the Irish flag but neither Laura Dillon nor Mary O'Loughlin won enough races to make tomorrow's cut. Although, sailing with World #15 skipper Claudia Pierce from New Zealand and finishing 4th are three talented Irish sailors; Diana Kissane from Dublin, Isabella Morehead from Cork and Ellen Cahill from Mayo. National pride will now weight on their young shoulders.

The format for the quarter finals will see teams face off against each other in a randomly selected knock out series. The first team in each pairing to reach three wins will go through to the semi-finals. Racing is scheduled for tomorrow (06 June) but due to the forecast of heavy rain and strong winds racing may be postponed until Saturday. Event organisers had also planned a 'Sail in the City' festival in Cork for tomorrow but due to the anticipated adverse weather the decision was made on Wednesday to cancel the event.