Marstrand, Sweden (3 July 2025) – The third day of racing at GKSS Match Cup Sweden saw the completion of the quarter-final matchups in both the Open and Women’s class, locking in the final four teams in each division for tomorrow’s semi-finals. Danish skipper Jeppe Borch/ Borch Match Race join the Swedish trio of Björn Hansen/ Hansen Sailing Team, Johnie Berntsson/ Berntsson Sailing Team and Oscar Engström/ Team Liros for the Open class final four. Defending Women’s Trophy champion Anna Östling / Team Wings leads the line-up for the Nordea Women’s Trophy final four, joined by France’s Pauline Courtois/ Match in Pink by Normandy Elite, Sweden’s Martina Carlsson/ Beyond Racing Team, and Julia Aarsten/ Team Out of the Box from the Netherlands.
After a forecast of building breeze in the afternoon, the quarter-final matches were set at a first-to-two-points in both classes with the Nordea Women’s teams heading to the course first after the morning skipper briefing.
In the first pairing, it was 23-year-old up-and-comer Martina Carlsson and the Beyond Sailing Team that found their early pace, sweeping 2024 runner-up Renee Groeneveld from the Netherlands in a 2-0 defeat to reach their second ever semi-final place on the Women’s World Match Racing Tour.
In match two, Julia Aartsen and her Dutch Team Out of the Box found themselves up against New Zeeland’s Megan Thomson and the 2.0 Racing Team. Both teams scored one-a-piece with a deciding race for the semi-final slot. After winning the start, Aartsen was able to fend off Thomson in a tense match and stay ahead over the finish line.
“That was a tough match against Megan and her [2.0 Racing] team but we are super happy to be going through to the semis” said Aartsen. “I think lost 2 kilos of sweat in the nerves but we are pumped for the semis tomorrow and we are giving it everything.”
In the last women’s quarter-final match, defending women’s world champion Pauline Courtois and the Match in Pink by Normandy Elite team showed no mercy in a clinical dispatch of opponent Celia Willison and the Edge Women’s Match team, advancing the French team into the last semi-final place.
In the Open class, after the surprise departure of USA’s Chris Poole and Switzerland’s Eric Monnin, after both skippers failed to make the cut this year form the qualifying round, the quarter-final field was wide open with three Swedish teams – Bernttson, Westerlind and Engstrom up against the two French skippers – Ian Garetta and Aurelién Pierroz, and Denmark’s Jeppe Borch, returning to Marstrand after recovering from several months of injury.
The young match racing teams of Marius Westerlind and America’s Cup Youth skipper Oscar Engström were first to do battle with each team beating the other to force a deciding race. Engström prevailed in the final match after forcing a penalty on Westerlind to go 2-1 and clinch the semi-final slot.
“A great day for us after a tough start to the weekend” said Engström. “We always have close matches against Marius [Westerlind] as one of our closest rivals but also our training partner. Now we are looking forward to an exciting semi-final and hopefully building on the momentum.”
In the second match, local favourite Johnie Berntsson leaned on local knowledge to knock out Marstrand newcomer France’s Ian Garetta in two straight wins.
Also showing a strong performance this week, Denmark’s Jeppe Borch delivered a commanding 2-0 defeat over his opponent Aurelién Pierroz from France.
Variable weather is forecast for the next two days in Marstrand which will challenge the semi-finalists as they line-up tomorrow to punch their ticket to Saturday’s final in front of expected large crowds on the iconic Marstrand cliffs.
For full results, follow
GKSS Match Cup Sweden https://wmrt.com/live-results/
Nordea Women’s Trophy https://womenswmrt.com/live-results/
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