Axel Mazella continued his fine start to the Paris 2024 Test Event on home water while Jordi Xammar Hernandez and Nora Brugman Cabot overcame testing circumstances in the Mixed 470 on day two in Marseille.
Mazella has a five-point lead over Connor Bainbridge in the Formula Kite Men, the pair battling it out at the summit once more following a one-two finish at the Allianz Regatta, the second World Cup of 2023.
Xammar Hernandez and Brugman Cabot sit second in the Mixed 470 behind Malte and Anastasiya Winkel despite an early collision which saw their rudder bent at 30 degrees throughout the day’s racing.
Michael Beckett and Viktorija Andrulytė lead the ILCA 7 and ILCA 6 classes respectively, while three wins and a second place have given Lauriane Nolot an early lead in the Formula Kite Women.
Mazella and Bainbridge resume battle
Axel Mazella (FRA) was successful in the only Formula Kite Men race to take place on the opening day and picked up where he left off.
Another bullet in race four was followed by back-to-back second places as he established a narrow advantage over Connor Bainbridge (GBR), who recorded two thirds and two fourths.
“I was super happy to get a consistent scoreline in and get myself ready for the rest of the week,” Bainbridge said.
“The top guys are the top guys and we are at the front again. It’s great to see we are all pushing as hard as we are, it’s a lot of fun out there.
“It [racing against Mazella] is not an easy challenge. For me, our final races are make-or-break so as long as I’m in the mix going into that, we’ll see what I can do.”
Singapore’s Maximilian Maeder, 16, won the opener on day two and sits third, 10 points behind Bainbridge.
Spanish duo overcome adversity
Jordi Xammar Hernandez and Nora Brugman Cabot (ESP) battled admirably to record finishes of second, first and fourth in the Mixed 470.
“Our rudder blade got stuck with the Italians [Giacomo Ferrari and Bianca Caruso],” Xammar Hernandez explained.
“It is the first time in our lives that has happened. Our rudder bent 30 degrees and we started last, we couldn’t keep the boat straight. We had to adjust all day to keep the boat sailing as well as possible.
“After that start, I thought our day was over but we managed to save it with good sailing. Now we will change the rudder blade ahead of tomorrow.”
Back-to-back bullets in races three and four saw Malte and Anastasiya Winkel (GER) end the day in the lead, a point clear of the Spanish pair.
“It’s too early to make any plans, we have only had four races,” Anastaysia Winkel said.
“There are six races in front of us, then medal races, so other teams will challenge as well. We just want to stick to our routines like we did today.”
Stuart McNay (USA), who ended the day in third alongside Lara Dallman-Weiss, added: “We are focusing on how well we are sailing right now and trying to keep that mojo going forward.
“The Germans are a good team, there are a lot of good teams out there. It’s tight, close competition and we are enjoying the racing.
“It’s an important event, we have limited opportunities to race against the other top boats.”
Beckett stays at the summit
Michael Beckett (GBR) had a share of the ILCA 7 lead after the opening day and now holds it outright after finishes of second and fourth took him to eight points.
That leaves him two clear of Pavlos Kontides (CYP), while Jean Baptiste-Bernaz (FRA) is back within touching distance after a first and second took him to 11 points, level with Finn Lynch (IRL).
Reigning Olympic champion Matt Wearn (AUS) is two points further back in fifth.
Andrulyte hits the front
Finishes of second then first on day two saw Viktorija Andrulyte (LTU) surge to the ILCA 6 summit.
Andrulyte sits on 12 points, two clear of Maud Jayet (SUI), with Chiara Benini Floriani (ITA) rounding off the first three.
Overnight leader Marit Bouwmeester (NED) dropped to fourth while Finland’s Monika Mikkola, 21st after the opening day, went in the other direction, climbing to sixth after consecutive finishes inside the top two alongside Andrulyte.
Nolot flies out the traps
Lauriane Nolot (FRA) joined her compatriot Mazella in making an impressive start on home water.
Three bullets, along with a second place, took the French ace to the top of the Formula Kite Women standings as action got underway a day later than planned, with Ellie Aldridge (GBR) and Daniela Moroz (USA) making up the remainder of the top three.
“I needed to get myself back in the racing mood,” Nolot said.
“Once I found that, everything was super and I had a really good day.
