(Hamilton, Bermuda, 24 October 2025) It’s still all to play for at the Aspen Women’s Match Racing Regatta after rain prevented the round-robin stage from being completed. Nicole Breault (USA), Julia Aartsen (NED) and Lea Vogelius (DEN) remain in contention for a chance to join Sweden’s Anna Östling and France’s Pauline Courtois in the semi-finals.
The heavy rain caused a suspension of the first flight, forcing skippers back to port for about an hour. Although the second flight was completed, the race committee called a halt due to reduced wind conditions before the third flight could commence.
Five races are set to take place on Saturday morning to determine the last two semi-finalists, with Östling and Courtois confirmed among them. They will be joined by either Vogelius, Breault, or Aartsen.
In the Bermuda Gold Cup, four top competitors secured their spots in the knockout stages: Johnie Berntsson (SWE), Eric Monnin (SUI), Chris Poole (USA), and Ian Williams (GBR). Berntsson topped the leaderboard despite being penalised for a collision with Poole in his opening race.
Williams, an eight-time World Match Racing champion, needed two wins from three races on the final day to guarantee his qualification, which he achieved by defeating Peter Wickwire (CAN) and Berntsson.
Williams expressed relief at progressing but acknowledged some frustration over minor mistakes that had prolonged his qualification process. He emphasised the importance of focusing on details as the competition shifts to knockout racing.
Vogelius, who has two races left, and Breault are aware of the stakes and what is required to secure their advancement. “It was frustrating today, and we would have loved to win our matches today but it wasn’t to be,” Breault stated, looking forward to her match against Martina Carlsson.
Aartsen indicated her only path to the semi-finals depends on a victory against American Lindsey Baab while hoping for favourable outcomes from her rivals. “That was nearly perfect,” she reflected, acknowledging the intense competition.
BERMUDA GOLD CUP 2025
The last day of round-robin action demonstrated fierce competition as top contenders fought for semi-final places. Sweden’s Johnie Berntsson finished first on the leaderboard, capitalising on his earlier achievements despite a penalty. Williams swiftly worked to secure wins necessary for progression, underscoring the significance of preparation and focus as the tournament intensifies.
Competitors are set for an exciting weekend as the conditions stabilise, and they prepare for the challenges ahead in both the Women’s Match Racing and the Gold Cup.
Follow live results at https://wmrt.com/live-results/ and for the Aspen Bermuda Women’s Match Race at https://womenswmrt.com/live-results/.
For more information on the World Match Racing Tour, visit www.wmrt.com and via social media at Facebook and Instagram @worldmatchracingtour, and via YouTube.
For more information on the Bermuda Gold Cup, bermudagoldcup.com.
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