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After a very successful 2003 Match Racing season that saw the likes of Ed BAIRD (USA), Magnus HOLMBERG (SWE) and Philippe PRESTI (FRA) and Claire LEROY (FRA) all finish the season on highs, the release dates for 2004 have been announced.

Karol JABLONSKI (POL) spent the year at the top of the Open Rankings, whilst Marie BJORLING (SWE) produced a similar feat in the Women's Rankings. This year, things are going to be very close with many of the former America's Cup helmsmen, tacticians, trimmers and crews returning to the full time match racing circuit.

There are eight rankings releases planned for 2004, the first being this Thursday, 15 January. This rankings release determines who will be invited to the BoatUS 2004 ISAF Women's Match Racing World Championship, to be held at the Eastport Yacht Club, Annapolis, USA from 6-12 June.

Last year it was Swedish skipper Malin MILLBOURN who took the World Championship title, and who along with her crew was subsequently shortlisted for the 2003 ISAF Rolex World Sailor of the Year Award. She will be certain to be in Annapolis to defend her World Championship title this year.

There are a grand total of 14 ISAF Grade 1 Open Match Racing events, with the first being the Marseille International in France from 10-14 March. There are six Grade 1 Women's events currently scheduled, with the first big one being the VI International Women Match Racing Criterium in Calpe, Spain from 27 April - 1 May.

Further details on Match racing, including the grading criteria and the ranking calculations, can be seen by following the link below.

ISAF Match Race Rankings - 2004 Release Dates

Release Date	Up to and Including results from
15/01/2004	Invites to the 2004 Women's MR World Championships
17/03/2004	Marseille International Match Race
28/04/2004	Congressional Cup and Invites to Open MR World Champs
23/06/2004	Cento Cup
28/07/2004	Open MR Worlds
01/09/2004	Lysekil Women's Match Cup
27/10/2004	King Edward VII Bermuda Gold Cup
24/11/2004	Nippon Cup