The world’s Olympic sailing elite set to gather in Hyères for the French Olympic Week

Organised by the French Sailing Federation, this iconic event will bring together several hundred sailors from more than 50 nations, competing across the ten Olympic disciplines: single-handed Dinghy for women and men (ILCA 6 & ILCA 7), double-handed Skiff (49erFX & 49er), Windsurfing (iQFOil), Kitefoil (Formula Kite), the mixed double Dinghy (470) and the mixed Multihull (Nacra 17).

Each year, the French Olympic Week Hyères confirms its status as one of the most important events in the Olympic sailing calendar. As the second stage of the Sailing Grand Slam, it stands alongside the Trofeo Princesa Sofía in Spain (27 March – 4 April) as one of the largest Olympic sailing competitions in the world — often compared to Roland-Garros in tennis for the sailing community.

Renowned for the quality and variety of its sailing conditions, the Bay of Hyères offers demanding racecourses where the world’s best sailors test themselves against the highest level of international competition.
Among the defending champions and sailors to watch this year are Italy’s Chiara Benini Floriani (ILCA 6), Hong Kong’s Nicholas Halliday (ILCA 7), Israel’s Tamar Steinberg (iQFOiL), China’s Kun Bi (iQFOiL), China’s Wan Li (Formula Kite), the USA’s Nevin Snow & Ian Macdiarmid (49er) and Great Britain’s John Gimson & Anna Burnet (Nacra 17).

Olympic medallists among the favourites

Several Olympic medallists will also be competing in Hyères.

In ILCA 7, Australia’s Matt Wearn, double Olympic champion (Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024), will be one of the top contenders, alongside Cyprus’ Pavlos Kontides, silver medallist at Paris 2024.

In ILCA 6, Norway’s Line Flem Høst, bronze medallist at Paris 2024, will also be among the favourites.

The Nacra 17 fleet will feature Italy’s Ruggero Tita & Caterina Banti, double Olympic champions (Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024), facing strong competition from Argentina’s Mateo Majdalani & Eugenia Bosco (silver medallists in Paris 2024) and New Zealand’s Micah Wilkinson, bronze medallist at the last Games.

In Formula Kite, Olympic silver medallist Toni Vodisek (Slovenia) and bronze medallist Maximilian Maeder (Singapore) will be among the leading contenders in the men’s fleet, while Lauriane Nolot of France, silver medallist at Paris 2024, will compete in the women’s event.

Also expected is Vilma Bobeck of Sweden, silver medallist in 49erFX at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.

Text and images courtesy of ffvoile.fr