This weekend, 28-29 January, eight match racing teams will take to the water off Queen Mary Sailing Club, Staines to compete for the pole position in the fifth qualifier of the JPMorgan Asset Management Winter Challenge Series. Competing in the RYA J/80s these teams from five European countries have all to play for as the winner not only gains bragging rights but also a slot in the JPMorgan Asset Management Winter Challenge Final (10-12 March).

Veterans to the Winter Challenge Series, Peter Wibroe of Denmark and Carsten Kemmling of Germany both attened the 2004/2005 series and are back this year to have a shot at gaining a place in the 2005/2006 final. Wibroe enters the weekend as the top seed and is ranked 17th in the ISAF World Match racing rankings followed by Kemmling, ranked 33rd.

After finishing fourth in the 2004/2005 JPMorgan Flemming Winter Challenge Final, Olympic bronze medallist Dorte Jensen of Denmark will make a return to the Winter Challenge series. Recently moving 35 places up the ISAF Match Racing rankings to 85th in the world, Jensen and her team will look to repeat last year’s success.

Josie Gibson, who finished second in the 2004/2005 JPMorgan Flemming Women’s Winter Challenge Final will try her luck in the open event this season. Ranked 255th in the ISAF Open Rankings and 17th in the Women’s ISAF Rankings, Gibson and her team will really push to finish at the top.

Making their first appearance at the Winter Challenge Series are Poland’s Marek Stanczyk, Great Britain’s Ian Southworth and two strong teams from France, one helmed by Vincent Biarnes and the other by Philippe Legros of France, ranked 48th and 49th respectively.

Teams

Peter Wibroe, DEN ISAF ranking 17

Carsten Kemmling, GER ISAF ranking 33

Vincent Biarnes, FRA ISAF ranking 48

Philippe Legros, FRA ISAF ranking 49

Marek Stanczyk, POL ISAF ranking 65

Dorte Jensen, DEN ISAF ranking 85

Ian Southworth, GBR ISAF ranking 254

Josie Gibson, GBR ISAF ranking 255