Online Alert: Hyères Demands Patience Before the Mistral with Sunset Finish

The action all came in a flurry at the end of one of those days on the Med that are good for sunbathing but bad for racing. The Nacra 17s finished their third race just before the sun went down.

With the most racing of the day, the shape of the 470FX and Nacra 17 fleets began to look a little clearer, but the forecast Mistral over the next two days may have something to say about that.

Today, a much lighter wind turned southsouth-west and then west from around 16:00 in the afternoon to sundown.

Sailors have always dealt with the doldrums in their own different ways, although in the modern Olympic boat park it is easier to sleep under under a Nacra than an Ilca.

56th edition of the Semaine Olympique Française de Hyères – Toulon Provence Méditerranée. French Olympic week. © Sailing Energy / Semaine Olympique Française
22 April, 2025

World Earth Day 2025: SOF and FFVoile show commitment

Tuesday, April 22 saw celebrations for the the Earth around the world. It is a day with a strong message and an opportunity to take stock of the French Sailing Federation’s environmental commitments in each of their events on the sporting calendar. During French Olympic Week (SOF), the FFV is acting within the framework of the charter of 15 eco-responsible commitments.

This means, in real actions, the use of 18 geostationary buoys to limit sea travel, using bicycles for logistics journeys, the installation of consumption meters on the coaches’ boats, and collaboration with the Porquerolles and Port-Cros national parks to limit the impact of regattas on ecosystems.

The SOF organisation is also encouraging responsible water consumption in the parking lots by recommending that boats be rinsed only at the end of the week. The Sailing Grand Slam calendar has also been designed to limit air travel. A responsible regatta is possible…and it’s already happening!

56th edition of the Semaine Olympique Française de Hyères – Toulon Provence Méditerranée. French Olympic week. © Sailing Energy / Semaine Olympique Française
22 April, 2025

Nacra 17 (mixed double-handed catamaran)
(29 entries)
Three races today

56th edition of the Semaine Olympique Française de Hyères – Toulon Provence Méditerranée. French Olympic week. © Sailing Energy / Semaine Olympique Française
22 April, 2025

The Nacra 17s were last back in the boat park just before 20:00. Italy’s duo of Gianluigi Ugolini & Maria Giubilei underlined their class by winning the first and third races of the day and finishing second in the second to consolidate their overnight lead.

Austria’s Laura Farese & Matthäus Zöchling continued their battle in the first race of the day, finishing second, but were then 13th and 7th. It was enough to hold onto second place overall ahead of the Dutch duo of Willemijn Offerman & Scipio Houtman, who won the second race.
Ominously for them, Britain’s John Gimson & Anna Burnett, winners in Palma and one of the favourites, shifted up a gear and finished 3, 4, 2 for the day to move into fourth place.

56th edition of the Semaine Olympique Française de Hyères – Toulon Provence Méditerranée. French Olympic week. © Sailing Energy / Semaine Olympique Française
22 April, 2025

49er (men’s and women’s double-handed skiff)
Women’s FX (38 entries)
Three races today

On a day of very varied results through the fleet, Belgium’s Isaura Maenhaut & Anouk Geerts won two of the three races to extend their overall lead. After finishing the second race in 22nd place, their day was in the balance, but the second victory gives them a nine-point advantage and all their rivals have similarly large discards.

56th edition of the Semaine Olympique Française de Hyères – Toulon Provence Méditerranée. French Olympic week. © Sailing Energy / Semaine Olympique Française
22 April, 2025

Spain’s Patricia Suarez Gonzalez & Melania Henke Riera are second overall. They won the second race, but could only manage 19th in the third.

USA’s Paris Henken & Helena Scutt were second in the second race, but also lost contact in the third, finishing 18th.

Men’s 49er (67 entries)
No races today

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