Day 3 of the Santa Maria Cup 2026: An Exciting Display of Women's World Match Racing

On the third day of the Santa Maria Cup 2026 Women’s World Match Racing event, the stage was set for a gripping battle, where skill, strategy, and sailing prowess came into play. The double round robin qualifying stage witnessed the emergence of four teams, securing their place in the semi-finals of the coveted Cup.

The day kicked off with a delay, due to high temperatures that caused the sea breeze to fill in later than planned. Nonetheless, the participants persevered through the unpredictable weather and a slew of intense round robin matches, leading to the confirmation of the final quartet. Allie Blecher (USA), Anna Östling and Martina Carlsson from Sweden, and Julia Aartsen from the Netherlands, came out as formidable leaders amidst the ten-team fleet.

Defending champion Allie Blecher of Team BAAM firmly anchored her place at the top of the competition, giving her competitors little room for error. Allie, along with Team BAAM, racked up an impressive fifteen wins, setting a benchmark in this world-class fleet.

Hot on Allie’s heels, Anna Östling’s Team Wings displayed a solid performance, finishing the qualifying stage with fourteen wins. Notably, Sweden’s Anna Östling is a former Santa Maria Cup winner, proving to be a tough competitor with her tenacity.

Making their debut at the Santa Maria Cup, Martina Carlsson and the Beyond Racing Team made a remarkable comeback following their inconsistent opening day performance. Their sheer determination led them to secure a spot in the semi-final berth, narrowly edging out New Zealand’s Megan Thomson/ 2.0 Racing.

Finally, Julia Aartsen and her Out of the Box Team, from the Netherlands, secured the last semi-final spot by demonstrating consistency throughout both the qualifying stages.

With a final berth on the horizon, these semi-final crews look forward to putting up a challenging fight against one another under the windy forecast of tomorrow’s final day.