Teams are getting set and signing up for the 2023 edition of the RYA Marlow Ropes Women’s Match Racing Championship at Weymouth & Portland National Sailing Academy.
The event is part of the RYA Summer Match Racing Series and will see up to 10 teams of three/four crew duelling in Elliott 6M keelboats over the weekend of 16-17 September 2023.
A combination of close racing and an opportunity for women to race with and against friends will make it a popular fixture for both experienced match racers and newcomers.
RYA Keelboat Development Manager Richard Moxey said: “It’s great to see a combination of experienced teams and new faces already on the entry list. The RYA has worked hard over the years to increase female participation in match racing.
“This event has a great feel to it – the standard is high and it will be an intensely fought championship but everyone is friendly and the experienced teams are keen to help the newer ones improve.”
Among those already entered with their teams and looking forward to taking part in this year’s event are Fiona Tylecote, Cossie Lewis, Juliette Kennedy and Ella Ashworth.
Also signed up is experienced crew but first-time match racing skipper Amber Hale, who said: “I’m really excited for the women’s match racing event this year as it’s a great opportunity to bring talented women together, and being new to helming in match racing it will be a fun challenge for me to race against women at a very competitive level on great boats and to learn loads!”
Fiona Tylecote meanwhile is returning after taking part last time and urges fellow team racing enthusiasts to likewise try match racing: “It offers great fun and tight racing with an element of team work. For me it is a chance to get back together with sailing friends from years ago, or to train up new female dinghy sailors to have the confidence to give it a go themselves. It’s a great atmosphere.”
Also taking part are two teams from the RYA’s new Crew4Gold programme, the ground-breaking talent ID project which trains up novice, but high potential, female athletes for Olympic success in the 49erFX.
The winning team could earn a place to compete internationally and will be invited to the RYA National Match Racing Championship Grand Finals at London’s Queen Mary SC in October.
Enter now for the RYA Marlow Ropes Women’s Match Racing Championship or for further information, including the Notice of Race, visit RYA Match Racing.