Feature Article from Magnus Wheatley @ Rule69 Blog
The Women’s World Match Racing Tour is about to ignite…
Bobby Unser, the Indycar Champion and speed demon of the Bonneville salt flats maybe an unlikely place to start today but there’s a quote of his, widely aired and used everywhere that resonates: “Success is where preparation and opportunity meet.”
I like that in a sporting sense. It probably works across many other fields but in terms of sailing, the Women’s World Match Racing Tour which kicks off in San Francisco in next week, is such an incredible opportunity for female athletes in our sport to showcase their talents that in my opinion, it’s almost unmissable.
I will however give a pass to the women training for the International Moth World Championships in Malcesine, Italy in July – and my goodness those girls are working hard for that championship – but where else is better to put yourself in the shop window with an America’s Cup looming so large in 2027 than at the front-end of the Women’s World Match Racing Tour? And it’s not just the helms, the crews are right under the microscope too. It’s a pathway to nirvana that is getting ever more illuminated.
Gathering at the fabulous St Francis Yacht Club next week is real, pure, dynamic talent and it’s great to see the likes of Sweden’s Anna Östling and French native Pauline Courtois putting their reputations on the line and going for it in strictly one-design J-22’s (remember them?).
Ranged against the favourites are a host of American teams but there’s much interest too in the Royal Netherlands Yacht Club team led by Julie Aartsen who are making the trip over Stateside to take in all that ‘Frisco (they hate me calling it that) has to offer. Julie finished second on the WWMRT last year and has been breaking through on the big boat scene in a big way. Shame that Celia Willison from New Zealand can’t defend her title but she too is breaking through elsewhere and busy doing bow at the moment on Black Star – and that’s pretty cool.
The US fields some almighty talent too – who said US sailing is on the rack? Nicole Breault leads the charge as a four time US match-racing champion who is from San Francisco so knows the Bay area well – perhaps the favourite? Or maybe Allie Blecher who also is a four-time US match-racing champion including the last three year 2022 – 2024. This is real talent.
Officially named the Casa Vela Cup, the event first took place in 2023 and the prize isn’t money (shame) but an all inclusive week for no less than eight people to the stunning Casa Vela Lodge set on a 100 acre preserve on the Riviera Maya, just south of Cancun. Now if that’s not worth winning, I don’t know what is?
I have to say I like that kind of sponsorship of events. I remember distinctly winning a weekend in Cowes after success in some National Schools’ title back in the late 1980’s and it’s amazing how life has moved on. It rained every day but I got to sail 420’s. I live there now. I doubt you’ll get the same experience in Cancun.
And a word about the St Francis Yacht Club, the grand-daddy of San Francisco Bay and arguably the second most senior club in America. Tell me i’m wrong. Not wishing to name-drop but I sat with the Commodore Adam Gambel at a recent event in Newport and he was both an impressive individual and a fine ambassador for the yacht club. I wish we had more like him over in the UK. A pleasure to talk to and I left with the impression that the sport is in good hands with people like Commodore Gambel at the helm. Same too for Lisa Meier at the Long Beach Yacht Club. Two absolute first class individuals and funnily enough they both support and are big advocates for the World Match Racing Tour in all its forms. Here’s to them.
But let me come back to Bobby Unser and his quote. Preparation – yes I get that – and to put a team together for the Women’s World Match Racing Tour takes a lot of preparation and team bonding.
But ‘opportunity’ is only a thing when you take it and what’s being served up on a plate by James Pleasance and his incessant drive behind both the WMRT and the WWMRT is enormous. So I’m a little surprised that there aren’t more teams than 10 taking part – do you know what I’m saying?
There are those who demand change, scream from the rooftops for equality and improved opportunity (which I am wholeheartedly for) but when it’s presented run for the hills. It’s almost a “No not for me” and I just don’t get it?
Sailing, particularly foiling, right now is a very, very expensive game and that the pathway to the top is a political nightmare, is very evident. Don’t be kidded on by the social media. It’s a closed shop to all but the ones with the sharpest of elbows.
Sailing AC40’s at $2.3 million a pop is a dream, and the way to get there is to serve the hard yards, do the legwork, transition to a team environment and don’t expect anything on a silver platter. The Women’s World Match Racing Tour fits every bill and there will be plenty of senior AC and SailGP eyes watching, mark my words.
Rant over – come on girls get teams together and get campaigning – but I wish all the competitors well for the first round of the Women’s World Match Racing Tour at the Casa Vela Cup in San Francisco, and further I send a very big shout out to all the volunteers of the superb (and very memorable to me) St Francis Yacht Club – we simply can’t do it without you. The regatta runs from the 28-31 May and is the first of a double header with the prestigious Santa Maria Cup in Annapolis the following week – a long running women’s match-racing event that has been going for the last 20 years.
Great stuff. Opportunity writ large.
Magnus Wheatley
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