Sunshine, fresh winds and hundreds of spectators combined to deliver a spectacular opening day of the 2026 GKSS Match Cup Sweden, as eighteen of the world’s best match racing teams launched their campaigns on the iconic waters off Marstrand.
Ten Open teams and eight all-female crews took to the famous Marstrand fjord in perfect Scandinavian summer conditions to begin the battle for the prestigious GKSS Match Cup Sweden and Nordea Women’s Trophy titles.
Home favourite Johnie Berntsson (SWE) made the perfect start to his regatta, claiming three victories from three matches to top the Open leaderboard after day one.
In the Women’s competition, Pauline Courtois (FRA) and Anna Östling (SWE) each posted three wins from four races, while fellow Swede Martina Carlsson impressed by remaining unbeaten with two wins from two starts.
Now celebrating its 32nd edition, the GKSS Match Cup Sweden remains one of the world’s premier match racing events. Organised annually by the Royal Gothenburg Yacht Club (GKSS), the event has been a cornerstone of the World Match Racing Tour since 2000 and continues to attract thousands of sailing fans to the picturesque island of Marstrand.
Berntsson Makes Early Statement
Leading the Open fleet after the opening day, Berntsson delivered a composed and clinical performance, winning all three of his matches to delight the home crowd.
Among the pre-event favourites is defending 2024 champion Chris Poole (USA) and his Riptide Racing team, featuring Luke Payne, Mal Parker and 2009 World Match Racing Champion Adam Minoprio. Despite recording just one victory from three races on the opening day, Poole remains firmly in contention as the qualifying round robin continues.
Defending 2025 Match Cup Sweden champion Jeppe Borch (DEN) begins his title defence tomorrow.
“It is great to be back here in Marstrand,” said Borch. “We love racing here and while it looks like we may have some windy conditions this week, we are looking forward to the challenge of defending our title.”
Australia’s Cole Tapper (Kairos Racing) and France’s Ange Delerce, making his debut appearance at the GKSS Match Cup Sweden, also enjoyed encouraging starts with two wins each from three matches.
The battle for the 2026 Nordea Women’s Trophy also got underway with eight elite international crews representing Europe and North America.
France’s Pauline Courtois and Sweden’s Anna Östling quickly established themselves among the frontrunners with three victories each, but it was Sweden’s Martina Carlsson and Beyond Racing who produced one of the standout performances of the day, remaining undefeated after two races.
“Marstrand is a very special place for us,” said Carlsson. “There is always such a huge crowd and so many Swedish flags, which really encourages us. We enjoy sailing in stronger breeze and, after finishing fourth last year, we’re definitely aiming for the podium this week.”
Making their Nordea Women’s Trophy debuts are two American teams — Lindsey Baab’s Fog Racing from San Francisco and Caroline Bayless’ Team Something Chill from Annapolis.
After only one light-air practice session yesterday, both crews faced the challenge of stronger winds and their first experience racing the FarEast 28 keelboats.
Fog Racing crew member Kate Shiber said: “Today was challenging because we’re still learning the FarEast 28 and sailing with asymmetric spinnakers. Every race taught us something, especially about our timing and teamwork. It’s an incredible venue and we’re thrilled to have been invited.”
2026 GKSS Match Cup Sweden Entries;
Chris Poole, USA, Riptide Racing
Crew: Luke Payne, Mal Parker, Adam Minoprio
Johnie Berntsson, SWE, Berntsson Sailing Team
- Crew: Herman Andersson, Patrik Sturesson, Anton Karlsson
- Cole Tapper, AUS, Kairos Racing
- Crew: Jack Frewin, Ollie Gilmour, Hamish Vass
- Ian Garreta, FRA, Med Racing
- Crew: Thibaut Demai, Pierre Garreta, Amandine Le Van Jacob, Calixte Benoit Eric Monnin, SUI, Swiss Match Racing Team
- Crew: Cyril Schüpbach, Ute Monnin-Wagner, Simon Brúgger
- Bjorn Hansen, SWE, Hansen Sailing Team
- Crew: Nils Bjerkås, Oskar Ljung, Emil Forsgren
Ange Delerce, FRA, 2003_Sailing Team
- Crew: Julia D’Amodio, Thomas Flachon,, Jean Picard, Sylvestre De Giuli Morghen
- Jeppe Borch, DEN, Borch Match Racing
Crew: Sebastian Olsen, Thor Malthe Andersen, Matias Rossing
- Oscar Engström, SWE, Liros Racing
Crew: Rasmus Alnebeck. Emil Wolfgang. Filip Karlsson
- Aurélien Pierroz, FRA, Match in Black
Sébastien Riot, Kenza Coutard, Camille Pfaff, Aristide Delin
2026 NORDEA Women’s Trophy Entries
Pauline Courtois, FRA Match in Pink by Normandy Elite Team
Crew: Maelenn Lemaitre, Louise Acker , Laurane Mettraux, Thea Khelif
Anna Östling, SWE WINGS – SWE
Anna Holmdahl White, Linnéa Wennergren , Svea Sahlin, Annika Carlunger
Lea Vogelius, DEN WOW Racing
Joan Vestergaard Hansen, Josefine Boel Rasmussen , Lærke Nørgård, Julia Toroi
Julia Aartsen, NED Team Out of the Box
Iris van Gerrevink , Eva Asbeek Brusse, Nerine Usman, Ismene Usman
Martina Carlsson, SWE Beyond Racing
Klara Utterström, Amanda Ljunggren, Hanna Gaskell-Brown, Hedvig Hedström
Julia D’Amodio, FRA Shark Caviar Racing
Roxane Perrot, Clara Bayol, Alice Chiappori, Lilou Ruat
Lindsey Baab, USA, Fog Racing
Kate Shiber, Elena VandenBerg, Helen Lord, Sally Mace
Caroline Bayless, USA, Team Something Chill
Katherine McNamara, Nora Ong, Emily Mueller, Caroline Keeffe-Jones
