HIGH STAKES FOR MATCH CUP SWEDEN SEMI-FINALISTS
Marstrand, Sweden (3 July 2025) – The third day of racing at GKSS Match Cup Sweden saw the completion of the quarter-final matchups in both the Open and Women’s class, locking in the final four teams in each division for tomorrow’s semi-finals. Danish skipper Jeppe Borch/ Borch Match Race join the Swedish trio of Björn Hansen/ Hansen Sailing Team, Johnie Berntsson/ Berntsson Sailing Team and Oscar Engström/ Team Liros for the Open class final four. Defending Women’s Trophy champion Anna Östling / Team Wings leads the line-up for the Nordea Women’s Trophy final four, joined by France’s Pauline Courtois/ Match in Pink by Normandy Elite, Sweden’s Martina Carlsson/ Beyond Racing Team, and Julia Aarsten/ Team Out of the Box from the Netherlands.
After a forecast of building breeze in the afternoon, the quarter-final matches were set at a first-to-two-points in both classes with the Nordea Women’s teams heading to the course first after the morning skipper briefing.
In the first pairing, it was 23-year-old up-and-comer Martina Carlsson and the Beyond Sailing Team that found their early pace, sweeping 2024 runner-up Renee Groeneveld from the Netherlands in a 2-0 defeat to reach their second ever semi-final place on the Women’s World Match Racing Tour.
In match two, Julia Aartsen and her Dutch Team Out of the Box found themselves up against New Zealand’s Megan Thomson and the 2.0 Racing Team. Both teams scored one-a-piece with a deciding race for the semi-final slot. After winning the start, Aartsen was able to fend off Thomson in a tense match and stay ahead over the finish line.
“That was a tough match against Megan and her [2.0 Racing] team but we are super happy to be going through to the semis” said Aartsen. “I think lost 2 kilos of sweat in the nerves but we are pumped for the semis tomorrow and we are giving it everything.”
In the last women’s quarter-final match, defending women’s world champion Pauline Courtois and the Match in Pink by Normandy Elite team showed no mercy in a clinical dispatch of opponent Celia Willison and the Edge Women’s Match team, advancing the French team into the last semi-final place.
In the Open class, after the surprise departure of USA’s Chris Poole and Switzerland’s Eric Monnin, after both skippers failed to make the cut this year form the qualifying round, the quarter-final field was wide open with three Swedish teams – Bernttson, Westerlind and Engstrom up against the two French skippers – Ian Garetta and Aurelién Pierroz, and Denmark’s Jeppe Borch, returning to Marstrand after recovering from several months of injury.
The young match racing teams of Marius Westerlind and America’s Cup Youth skipper Oscar Engström were first to do battle with each team beating the other to force a deciding race. Engström prevailed in the final match after forcing a penalty on Westerlind to go 2-1 and clinch the semi-final slot.
“A great day for us after a tough start to the weekend” said Engström. “We always have close matches against Marius [Westerlind] as one of our closest rivals but also our training partner. Now we are looking forward to an exciting semi-final and hopefully building on the momentum.”
In the second match, local favourite Johnie Berntsson leaned on local knowledge to knock out Marstrand newcomer France’s Ian Garetta in two straight wins.
Also showing a strong performance this week, Denmark’s Jeppe Borch delivered a commanding 2-0 defeat over his opponent Aurelién Pierroz from France.
Variable weather is forecast for the next two days in Marstrand which will challenge the semi-finalists as they line-up tomorrow to punch their ticket to Saturday’s final in front of expected large crowds on the iconic Marstrand cliffs.
For full results, follow:
GKSS Match Cup Sweden https://wmrt.com/live-results/
Nordea Women’s Trophy https://womenswmrt.com/live-results/
For more information on the Nordea Women’s Trophy, gkssmatchcupsweden.se
8 teams are competing in the 2025 GKSS Match Cup Sweden - Women’s Nordea Trophy:
Pauline Courtois (FRA) - Match In Pink by Normandie Elite Team - Maelenn Lemaitre, Louise Acker, Laurane Mettraux, Thea Khelif
Anna Östling (SWE) - WINGS - Anna Holmdahl White, Linnea Wennergren, jenny Axhede, Annika Carlunger
Julia Aartsen (NED) - Team Out of the Box - Iris van Gerrevink, Eva Asbeek Brusse, Nerine Usman, Ismene Usman
Kristine Mauritzen (DEN) - Those Seagulls - Helena Formgren, Mille Jensen, Julie Erhardsen, Maria Reinhold
Megan Thomson (NZL) - 2.0 Racing Team - Liv Mackay, Charlotte Porter, Tiana Whitty, Josi Andres
Martina Carlsson (SWE) - Beyond Sailing Team - Svea Sahlin, Amanda Ljunggren, Hanna Gaskell-Brown, Hedvig Hedstrom
Renee Groeneveld (NED) - Dutch Match Racing - Mijke Levens, Lobke Berkhout, Marije Tijssenkampen, Sandra Sandqist
Celia Willison (NZL) - Edge Women’s Match - Jess Berthoud, Rosie Rowell, Clare Costanzo, Serena Woodall
For more updates and information on the Women’s World Match Racing Tour and event documents, visit womenswmrt.com and follow us on social media at Facebook (@womenswmrt), Instagram(@womenswmrt) and X (Twitter) (@womenswmrt)
Women’s World Match Racing Tour 2025 Schedule:
Stage 1 Casa Vela Cup, San Francisco USA, 28-31 May
Stage 2 Santa Maria Cup, Annapolis USA, 4-7 June
Stage 4. Nordea Women’s Trophy – Match Cup Sweden, Marstrand, 30 June – 5 July
Stage 5. Women’s Match Racing World Championship, Chicago, 17-20 September
Stage 6. Bermuda Women’s Match Race, Bermuda, 21-26 October
*Dates listed race days only
About Women’s World Match Racing Tour
The Women’s World Match Racing Tour was launched in 2022 to continue the hugely successful legacy of the WIM Series (Women’s International Match Racing Series) providing a global match racing series for female sailors. The name of the series was re-launched as the Women’s World Match Racing Tour with its continued mission to expand and strengthen global match racing and promote opportunities for competitive women’s sailing at every level. The Women’s World Match Racing Tour is the world’s first and only professional sailing series for women providing a valuable pathway for aspiring female world champions in the sport of sailing. womenswmrt.com
womenswmrt.com
