Nations Cup Competitor SENFFT Wins Mexican Match Race Title

Brazilian skipper Juliana SENFFT made the perfect preparations ahead of the start of the ISAF Nations Cup Grand Final in Porto Alegre next week by winning the inaugural ISAF Grade 2 Women’s Ibero American Match Race in Mexico.

The Women’s Ibero American Match Racing Championship held at the Club Náutico Avándaro in Valle de Bravo was the first ever Women’s Match Racing event held in Mexico. Ten teams from seven countries sailed Santana 20s over three days in sunny weather and winds of 8 to 12 knots. 

Juliana SENFFT (BRA) will represent the host nation Brazil at the Grand Final of the ISAF Nations Cup in Porto Alegre next week and showed she’s in top form heading into the event. SENFFT triumphed amongst a tough line up which included home favourite and three-time Olympian Tania ELIAS CALLES WOLF (MEX).

The ISAF Grade 2 event also included a match racing workshop headed by Liz BAYLIS, the silver medallist at the 2008 ISAF Women’s Match Racing World Championship. The workshop was part of the efforts of FIVELA, the Ibero Americcan Federation, to stimulate the growth of match racing in this part of the sailing world. The competitors were all enthusiastic at the prospect of repeating the event annually.

The final standings are as follows:

1. Juliana SENFFT (BRA)
2. Silvia ROCA MATA (ESP)
3. Tania ELIAS CALLES WOLF (MEX)
4. Eliane FIERRO (MEX)
5. Tania ZIMMERMANN (PER)
6. Catarina CARVALHO (POR)
7. Arabella DENVIR (IRL)
8. Natalia PELLICER LEON (MEX)
9. Victoria GUIDI (ESA)
10. Maria RAMIRES (POR)