Strong Winds Mark the Second Day of the 2012 WMR International Country Olympic Qualifying Regatta

Feb. 4, 2012 - PRLog -- The winds on Biscayne Bay whipped up for the second day of racing at the 2012 Women's Match Racing International Country Olympic Qualifying Regatta as the first stage was completed and the second stage began. Six countries (Finland, Spain, Slovenia, Germany, Denmark, and Argentina) advanced from the initial round robin stage and 3 countries were eliminated (Canada, China, and Brazil).

Results at the end of Stage One (initial round robin of nine teams):
1- Finland: 8 wins - 0 losses
2- Spain: 5-3
3- Slovenia: 5-3
4- Germany: 5-3
5- Denmark: 4-4
6- Argentina: 4-4
7- Canada: 2-6
8- China: 2-6
9- Brazil: 1-7

Racing continued for the top six countries who advanced into the second stage - a double round robin of the six teams where each team sails against the other twice. A little more than half of that stage was completed as the teams battled in the fresh 20 knot winds on Biscayne Bay.

Stage 2 Results (through 6 of 10 flights):
1- Finland: 5 wins - 1 loss
2- Spain: 5-1
3- Slovenia: 3-3
4- Denmark: 3-3
5- Argentina: 2-4
6- Germany: 0-6

At the end of Stage Two the top four teams will advance to the semi-final knock out stage. Racing will continue through Sunday in Key Biscayne.

The top three countries from this event will will join the nine countries that have already qualified for the2012 Olympic Sailing Competition (Australia, France, Great Britain, Netherlands, New Zealand, Portugal, Sweden, Russia, and USA).

The 2102 WMRICOQR is hosted by Key Biscayne Yacht Club, WIMRA, and Sail Sheboygan with the support of North Sails.

Live results and tracking can be found on the regatta website:
2012 Women’s Match Racing International Country Olympic Qualifying Regatta - http://www.sailsheboygan.org/WMR-2012.php

Teams Competing:
ARGENTINA - Martina Silva, Ana Lucía Silva, María Trinidad Silva
BRAZIL - Renata Decnop, Gabriela Nicolino, Larissa Juk
CANADA - Sharon Ferris-Choat, Caroline Kaars Sijpesteijn, Joanne Prokop
CHINA - Ru Wang, Li Xiaoni, Pan Ting Ting
DENMARK - Lotte Meldgaard Pedersen, Susanne Boidin, Tina Schmidt Gramkov
FINLAND - Silja Lehtinen, Mikaela Wulff, Silja Kanerva
GERMANY - Silke Hahlbrock, Anke Lukosch, Maren Hahlbrock
SLOVENIA - Vesna Dekleva Paoli, Katarina Kersevan, Lena Koter
SPAIN - Tamara Echegoyen, Angela Pumariega, Sofía Toro

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The 2102 WMRICOQR is hosted by Key Biscayne Yacht Club, WIMRA, and Sail Sheboygan with the support of North Sails.

For more information, visit the regatta website:
2012 Women’s Match Racing International Country Olympic Qualifying Regatta - http://www.sailsheboygan.org/WMR-2012.php

Follow the event on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/USSCSheboygan

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The Women's International Match Racing Association was formed in 1996 to promote, coordinate and supervise women's international match-race sailing and support the inclusion of a Women's Match-Racing Event in the Olympic Games.