The Busan Cup Women’s International Match Race to be held from October thirtieth to November fourth has finalized their list of skippers for the 2009 grade 1 women’s match race.  The teams are made up of nationals from 10 countries making this a truly international event.  The regatta expects to draw much more attention this year with the inclusion of women’s match racing in the 2012 London Olympics.

World’s Top-ranked Claire Leroy from France will head a list of elite sailors vying for the cup this year.  She returns along with Sally Barkow from the USA who won last year’s inaugural cup by defeating Leroy in the finals 3-0.

Also coming back is Liz Baylis, president of the Women’s International Match Racing Association (WIMRA).  She will also conduct the WIMRA North U Match Racing Clinic which will be held from October twenty-sixth to the twenty-eighth.

Due to the resounding success of the 2008 race, this year’s version was able to attract the best teams in the sport today.  Other confirmed participants in the world ranking top ten include Lucy Macgregor from the GBR, Anne-Claire Le Berre of France, and Lotte Meldgaard Pederson from Denmark.

Representing the Asian region, Japan’s Urara Fujii, the Japan’s reining Match Race champion, and hometown girl Hye-won Park will return after doing well in the 2008 race. 

The race will also include up-and-comers Susanne Ward from Denmark and Annelies Thies of the Netherlands, as well as match racing veteran Martina Kalemo of Finland.  Tylinska Katarzyna of Poland will also return to round out the field of 12 teams.  To find out more about this event, visit the website at www.busanmatch.com

A new race series will start this Saturday the 22nd of November.  The races will be held monthly with a champions crowned at the end of the year.  There will be several classes including: Laser, Laser Radial, 470, Optimist, and Open Class.

These races are being arranged by the Busan Yacht Club, Busan Youth Dingy School, Busan Expat Sailing Association, and the Busan Sailing Federation.

The championship will be a point system with competitors earning points for each finish in the top 10.  Racers will be ranked and the one with the most points at the end of the year will be crowned the champion in each class.

 If you want to participate, contact Mark Chi of BESA for more details.