ANNAPOLIS, Md. (June 6, 2026) – Team BAAM, skippered by Allie Blecher, successfully defended their Santa Maria Cup title, defeating Sweden’s Anna Östling and the Wings Sailing Team 3-1 in the final. This victory marks the second consecutive win for Blecher’s crew in this prestigious event, part of the 2026 Women’s World Match Racing Tour, hosted by the Eastport Yacht Club in Annapolis.
Blecher, along with crew members Beka Schiff, Katja Sertl, and Ali Blumenthal Stokes, showcased exceptional sailing skills throughout the competition. Their championship follows a breakthrough win in 2025, solidifying their position as a leading team in women’s match racing.
The competition concluded with the semi-finals, where Blecher entered with a 2-0 lead over Sweden’s Martina Carlsson, securing a spot in the finals after winning the next race for a 3-0 victory. In the other semi-final, Östling advanced against Dutch skipper Julia Aartsen, overcoming a 1-0 disadvantage to win 3-0.
In the final, the first race saw Östling prematurely over the start line, giving Blecher an early lead. However, Östling levelled the series in race two with a strong comeback. In a pivotal third race, Blecher capitalised on a tactical error from Östling to move ahead 2-1. The decisive fourth race was marked by Blecher’s aggressive tactics, leading to a penalty against Östling, which ultimately allowed Blecher to secure the championship.
“It’s amazing to win this event again,” said Blecher. “We kept our heads in the game and just kept plugging away, even when we were behind. It’s a spectacular event and we can’t wait to come back.”
Team Out of the Box from the Netherlands claimed third place after defeating Martina Carlsson’s Beyond Racing Team 2-0 in the Petit Final. This marked a strong debut for Aartsen’s team at the Santa Maria Cup.
The Women’s World Match Racing Tour will continue with Stage 3, the Nordea Women’s Trophy, scheduled for June 29 to July 4 in Marstrand, Sweden, a renowned venue for match racing.
Final Results:
1. Allie Blecher, USA Team Baam
Crew: Beka Schiff, Katja Sertl, Ali Blumenthal Stokes
2. Anna Östling, SWE WINGS – SWE
Crew: Annie Wennergren, Linnea Wennergren, Annika Carlunger
3. Julia Aartsen, NED Team Out of the Box
Crew: Nerine Usman, Iris van Gerrevink, Floortje Hoogstede
4. Martina Carlsson, SWE Beyond Racing
Crew: Ida Elfving, Amanda Ljunggren, Felicia Fernström
5. Megan Thomson, NZL 2.0 Racing Team
Crew: Tinka Visser, Maddie Rist, Josi Andres
6. Caroline Bayless, USA, Team Something Chill
Crew: Katherine Doble, Nora Ong, Noelle Owen
7. Lijia Xu, CHN, The Magenta Project
Crew: Ashley Love, Gretchen Esbensen, Kim Couranz, Michael-Anne Ashford
8. Kathleen Cornetta, USA, Cherry Bomb Racing
Crew: Stephanie Wondolleck, Marina Fennell, Carling Freeborn
9. Tara Golonka, CAN, Salish Sea Racing
Crew: Anna Parolin, Zoe Folsetter, Fiona McInnes
10. Gwynie Dunlevy, USA, Team Dial-Up
Crew: Lila Salvesen, Meredith McKeown, Amy Woodward
For more information, visit https://www.santamariacup.org/and https://womenswmrt.com/
For detailed results, see https://womenswmrt.com/live-results
#SantaMariaCup #womenswmrt #EYC_santamariacup
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