56th Semaine Olympique Française de Hyères
The final day of the 56th edition of French Olympic Week (Semaine Olympique Française de Hyères – Toulon Provence Méditerranée) saw Italy join China at the top of the medal table as they won a medal of every colour across the six Medal Races after China’s exploits on Friday.
- Germany and Belgium win gold and silver
- Sailors hail “Amazing” week with every weather test
- A great day for America’s skiffs with 49er gold and FX silver
After the four board finals on Friday, the top 10 boats from the remaining six Olympic fleets
- 470, ILCA 6 and 7, Nacra 17, 49er, and FX – had their Medal Races on Saturday.
Two (470 and ILCA 7) had been won the day before by dominant leaders, two (fournineer and ILCA 6), saw yellow bib leaders displaced in thrilling races, and two (FX and Nacra 17) saw the overnight leaders hang on – just.
With a stable onshore easterly breeze of around 10-12 knots and more waves than previous days, the Medal Races started on time at 11:00, with the wind dropping off slightly for the last races at 12:30.
The weather has been one of the stars of the week and many of this young fleet, with some beginning the first Olympic cycle, will never forget their first full Mistral on Wednesday.
470 (mixed double-handed dinghy) – 39 entries
- 1st – Simon Diesch & Anna Markfort (GER) – 43 pts
- 2nd – Jordi Xammar Hernández & Marta Cardona Alcántara (ESP) – 56
- 3rd – Giacomo Ferrari & Alessandra Dubbini (ITA) – 59
Germany’s Simon Diesch & Anna Markfort had confirmed gold on Friday with a lead of 21 points, so just had to avoid any penalty disqualification and enjoy the Medal Race. They did and despite the Italian duo of Giacomo Ferrari & Alessandra Dubbini roaring away to win the Medal Race, Spain’s Olympic bronze medallist at Tokyo 2020 (2021), Jordi Xammar Hernández, with his new teammate, Marta Cardona Alcántara, were able to keep track and silver.
It was mission accomplished for the German duo who had finished second earlier this month in the first round of the Sailing Grand Slam.
ILCA 6 and 7 – (women’s and men’s solo dinghy)
The biggest fleet of boats in the regatta with 112 entries in the ILCA 7 and 76 ILCA 6.
ILCA 6
- 1st – Chiara Beninin Floriani (ITA) – 34 pts
- 2nd – Emma Plasschaert (BEL) – 36
- 3rd – Anna Munch (DEN) – 39
ILCA 7
- 1st – Nicholas Halliday (HKG) – 48 pts
- 2nd – Thomas Saunders (NZL) – 71
- 3rd- Duko Bos (NED) – 79
Nacra 17 (mixed double-handed catamaran) – 29 entries
- 1st – John Gimson & Anna Burnett (GBR) – 49 pts
- 2nd – Gianluigi Ugolini & Maria Giubilei (ITA) – 52
- 3rd – Willemijn Offerman & Scipio Houtman (NED) – 60
49er (men’s and women’s double-handed skiff)
Women’s FX (38 entries)
- 1st – Isaura Maenhaut & Anouk Geerts (BEL) – 149 pts
- 2nd – Paris Henken & Helena Scutt (USA) – 151
- 3rd – Georgia Lewin-LaFrance & Antonia Lewin-LaFrance (CAN) – 156
Men’s 49er (67 entries)
- 1st – Nevin Snow & Ian MacDiarmid (USA) – 101 pts
- 2nd – Richard Schultheis & Fabian Rieger (GER) – 104
- 3rd – Hernando Umpierre & Fernando Diz (URU) – 108
USA’s Nevin Snow & Ian MacDiarmid produced a controlled race to displace the yellow-bibbed leaders from Uruguay, hold off the Germans and cap a great day for American skiffs 45 minutes after the USA’s women’s FX duo had pulled off their great comeback to take silver.
The high scores kept on coming and as the wind eased for the last Medal Races of the day, and gambles got bigger. This time it cost the Uruguayans most. They started the Medal Race three points clear of USA, but trailed home last to finish with bronze after the Germans came second in the race.
See you next year for the 57th edition of French Olympic Week (Semaine Olympique Française de Hyères – Toulon Provence Méditerranée) from April 18-25.
