High winds brought racing to a standstill on Thursday at the Nordea Women's Trophy Sweden, leaving the Open division quarterfinals unfinished while the Nordea Women's Trophy semifinal lineup was confirmed. After three days of near-perfect conditions, a strong weather front swept across Sweden's west coast, forcing race officials to suspend competition as conditions became unsafe.
Three Open quarterfinals were underway before racing was abandoned. Sweden's seven-time Match Cup champion Björn Hansen and France's Ange Delerce were level at 1-1 in their best-of-five series.
Comeback Charge: Australia's Cole Tapper and Kairos Racing fought back from 2-0 down to level their GKSS Match Cup Sweden quarterfinal against Sweden's Johnie Berntsson at 2-2 before high winds halted racing in Marstrand. Photo: Ian Roman
The closest contest saw Sweden's Johnie Berntsson surrender a 2-0 lead as Australia's Cole Tapper and Kairos Racing fought back to level their series at 2-2 before racing was halted. In the remaining quarterfinal, 2024 champion Chris Poole of the United States held a narrow 2-1 advantage over defending champion Jeppe Borch of Denmark.
Top qualifier Oscar Engström of Sweden remains safely through to the semifinals after winning the round robin stage.
The Nordea Women's Trophy quarterfinals were completed before conditions deteriorated.
Former champion Anna Östling of Sweden and Wings Sailing advanced with a 3-1 victory over Caroline Bayless and Team Something Chill of the United States. Defending champion Pauline Courtois and France's Match in Pink Team swept past compatriot Julia D'Amodio and Shark Caviar Racing 3-0 to book another semifinal appearance.
Quarterfinal Exit: The Netherlands' Julia Aartsen and Team Out of the Box compete during the Nordea Women's Trophy quarterfinals before bowing out 3-1 to Denmark's Lea Vogelius and WOW Racing in Marstrand. Photo: Ian Roman
Denmark's Lea Vogelius and WOW Racing claimed the final semifinal place with a 3-1 win over the Netherlands' Julia Aartsen and Team Out of the Box.
The three qualifiers now join Sweden's Martina Carlsson and Beyond Racing, who earned a direct semifinal berth after completing an unbeaten 7-0 round robin campaign.
