(San Francisco, CA – May 31, 2025) — French match racing skipper Pauline Courtois and her Match in Pink Normandy team claimed a decisive victory today at the 2025 Casa Vela Cup, held in the iconic waters of San Francisco Bay and hosted by the St.Francis Yacht Club. Courtois and crew defeated USA’s Nicole Breault and the Vela Racing team 3-1 in the final. Sweden’s Team Wings skippered by Anna Östling finished in third after winning both races in the first-to-two points petit-final against Julia Aartsen/ Team Out of the Box from the Netherlands.

Battling a strong flood tide in the bay and a fresh westerly breeze which has remained consistent during the four-day event, Courtois and Breault traded wins in the first two final matches to even the score at 1-1.

A close tacking duel along the southerly shore ensued in the third race with Courtois ahead and covering Breault’s every move. Choosing to take an earlier lay line to the top mark, a lucky wind shift allowed Courtois to make the first windward mark ahead of Breault and led the race to go 2-1, and match point.

 

Nicole Breault and Pauline Courtois in a close downwind battle at the final of the Casa Vela Cup 2025. Photo: Anna Suslova/ WWMRT

In the deciding race, Courtois held a controlling position again to the windward mark. Breault, finding pace downwind and looking for the pass on Courtois, incurred a penalty as her spinnaker touched the backstay of Courtois’s boat. By the final leg of the race, Breault had gained a marginal lead but did not have enough space ahead of Courtois to do a penalty turn at the finish and stay ahead.

In a masterful move, Breault went for a hard luff on Courtois and managed to force a penalty on her opponent, cancelling out her own penalty and leaving both teams for a sprint to the finish. However, as they gybed for the finish, Courtois was able to narrowly cross the line seconds ahead of Breault and securing the 3-1 victory.

“We are so happy with the win here in San Francisco” said a jubilant Courtois. “Nicole sailed a great match against us, but we are thrilled to have got the win here at the Casa Vela Cup!”

Winning the event also awarded the French team with the first prize of a week’s stay for the whole team and guests at ‘Casa Vela’, a hand built 450 m2 (5000 sq ft) four-bedroom treehouse on the beach near Playa del Carmen, Mexico. The prize is generously donated by St Francis Yacht Club members Bruce Stone and Nicole Breault and comes with a private chef and watersports equipment  www.casavelaplayadelcarmen.com

The first prize of a week’s stay at the exclusive Casa Vela, Mexico

The Women’s World Match Racing Tour moves straight to Annapolis next week in a back-to-back event schedule with the Eastport Yacht Club hosting the Santa Maria Cup, the second stage of the 2025 women’s world tour. Eight teams will compete for the Annapolis event in the same J22 type boats – see https://www.santamariacup.org/

Final Results – 2025 Casa Vela Cup

1. FRA Pauline Courtois, Maelenn Lemaitre, Louise Acker, Laurane Mettraux
2. USA Nicole Breault, Molly O’Bryan Vandemoer, McKenzie Wilson, Hailey Thompson
3. SWE Anna Östling, Svea Sahlin, Linnea Wennergren, Annika Carlunger
4. NED Julia Aartsen, Iris van Gerrevink, Eva Asbeek Brusse, Floortje Hoogstede
5. USA Allie Blecher, Beka Schiff, Alana Marks, Martha Parker
6. USA Lindsey Baab, Kate Shiber, Helen Lord, Sally Wilmot
7. USA Katie Cornetta, Krysia Pohl, Stephanie Wondolleck, Courtney Clamp
8. FRA Kenza Coutard, Juliette Dubreuil, Victoire Lerat, Elena Circiello-Vaillant
9. USA Caroline Bayless, Nora Ong, Maddy McGrath
10. USA Liz Hjorth, Karyn Jones, Julia Jaynes, Liz Hopkins

For the full final results, see www.matchracingresults.com

For more information on the Women’s World Match Racing Tour, visit https://womenswmrt.com/

To view the full image gallery CLICK HERE