The Australian Sailing Development Squad crew lead by Nicky Souter has won the 2009 ISAF Women's Match Racing World Championship in Lysekil, Sweden, beating local sailor Marie Bjorling in the final.
Souter and crew Rayshele Martin, Nina Curtis, Lucinda Whitty, Kat Stroinovsky and Amanda Scrivenor defeated reigning world champion and world number one Claire Leroy of France on the way to the world title.
The Australians brushed aside Leroy 3-1 in the semifinal before taking the title with an impressive three-nil victory over Bjorling in front of her home crowd.
Souter, ranked eighth on the ISAF women's match racing world ranking list, sailed perfectly all day, sticking every manoeuvre and taking all the right tactical decisions. The 25-year old has already competed in three previous World Championships but never finished on the podium.
“Our expectations were quite low coming here as we have very little experience in this boat and we would have been more than happy making it to the top six,” said Souter.
“When we then made it to the semi finals, meeting Claire Leroy, all the odds were against us. We were not nervous and sailed without pressure,” she said.
Fellow Australian Katie Spithill finished the regatta in fifth, beating Denmark's Camille Ulrikkeholm in a one race match.
For more information go to www.australiansailingteam.com.au
