Le Berre and Goncalves In Control After First Day of Women's Match Racing Europeans

Anne-Claire Le Berre (FRA) and Rita Goncalves (POR) are at the top of the table after the first day of Women’s Match Racing at the Open Europeans in Helsinki, Finland.

Both Anne-Claire Le Berre‘s (FRA) and Rita Gonçalves‘ (POR) teams won all of their five matches on Thursday.

Defending champion, Russia’s Ekaterina Skudina holds the third spot with six wins. Skudina’s team lost twice, against Goncalves and Silvia Roca mata of Spain.

Finland’s Silja Lehtinen and her team of Silja Kanerva and Mikaela Wulff didn’t have their best day, the local favourites ended the day with a win-loss record of 3-4.

At one point during the day the wind shifted and increased, which forced the organizers to alter the race course. As a result, flight 8 had to be postponed, but the racing was resumed after a short break.

Match Racing’s Round Robin continues on Friday at 10:00 (local time) with Flights 14–22. The new European Champions will be crowned after Sunday’s medal race, which is held at 12:00 at Hernesaari.

For complete results, go to www.openeuropeans2011.com