Auckland, New Zealand (November 13, 2022) – French match racing legend, Pauline Courtois, claimed the podium today after she and her team ‘Match in Pink’, held on to their lead throughout the past four days and finally defeated New Zealand’s Celia Willison of ‘Edge Women’s Match’.

Four days of match racing with the world’s best female sailors, all vying for the title of Women’s Match Racing World Champions, has today drawn to a close, but not before delivering all of the excitement that comes with match racing to spectators.

The global fleet of female sailors have been battling it out on the Waitemata Harbour, in Auckland’s changeable and challenging conditions. Fog, squalls, sun and rain have kept sailors on their toes with four days of tight match racing, right in front of the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron and next to Auckland’s iconic Harbour Bridge.

The winning skipper of the Barfoot & Thompson 2022 Women’s Match Racing World Championship is 33-year-old sports teacher from Brest and helm of ‘Match in Pink’ (FRA), Pauline Courtois. Courtois started sailing at seven and racing at nine, and has been in match racing in different positions since 2011.

Her favorite boat for match racing is the Elliott 6m, so racing in Elliot 7m this week saw her years of experience pay off at the end of the day when Courtois became champion of the event, taking a clean sweep 2-0 win against 24 year old Celia Willison’s Edge Women’s Match (NZL) in the…