An all-Scandinavian showdown will decide the opening event of the 2026 Women’s World Match Racing Tour in Denmark this weekend.
Sweden’s Anna Östling and Wings Sailing will face Denmark’s Lea Vogelius and WOW Racing in Sunday’s final at the Royal Danish Yacht Club’s KDY Women’s Match Race in Rungsted.
After three days of qualifying and knockout racing, Östling’s crew defeated defending Women’s Match Racing World Champions Match in Pink from France, skippered by Pauline Courtois, by 3-1 in the semi-finals.
Östling’s Wings Sailing team includes Anna Holmdahl White, Linnea Wennergren, Jenny Axhede, Svea Sahlin and Annika Carlunger. “We love sailing the DS37’s,” Östling said after the semi-final win. “Lea and her team have been sailing very well all week, and they also know these boats and waters well. We’re looking forward to a tough final,” she added.
Wings Sailing powers into the KDY Women’s Match Race final. Photo: Ian Roman
Local skipper Lea Vogelius and her WOW Racing crew of Louise Ulrikkeholm, Sille Christensen, Josefine Rasmussen and Joan Hansen booked their place in the final with a 3-1 win over fellow Danish team Those Seagulls, skippered by Kristine Mauritzen.
The final renewed a growing rivalry between the Swedish and Danish crews. Östling defeated Vogelius in the 2023 KDY Women’s Match Race final, while Vogelius also finished runner-up in the 2024 edition.
The KDY Women’s Match Race was launched in 2022 as a founding event of the Women’s World Match Racing Tour.
With valuable championship points on the line, the final marks an important early contest in the 2026 season.
