Light winds mar start of sailing World Cup in Hyeres 

First day of French World Cup event blighted by light winds

The French Olympic Sailing Week started with a whisper on Sunday (25 April), with just five of the twelve competing classes able to see any race action on the opening day.

Light wind conditions upset the race schedule right from the outset of this fourth leg of the ISAF Sailing World Cup series, although Britain’s Olympic, World and European Champion Paul Goodison, 2.4mR sailors Helena Lucas, Megan Pascoe and Lucy Macgregor’s match racing crew all had promising starts to their regattas.  

Goodison and his Laser fleet saw a long day on the water with just one race to result to show for it – a race which saw the Skandia Team GBR star finish third in the testing conditions, in spite of picking up a yellow flag penalty – while Helena Lucas and Megan Pascoe saw a strong start in the 2.4mR Paralympic fleet.  

Lucas, who picked up a silver medal at the Palma leg of the World Cup series at the beginning of April, was quick out of the blocks and maintained her lead to take the race win in their only race of the day.  

“I got a good start and I was pretty pleased with my upwind speed,” the 34-year-old explained.“I had a good lead at the windward mark, although we did get mixed up with the Stars and Sonars who are also on our course on the downwind leg so I was getting a good bit of dirty air from them to slow me down.  

“That made a bit of a dent in my lead but I managed to still hold on.  It was a tricky day, but a good start to the regatta and hopefully more to come!”  

Megan Pascoe picked up a third, just behind local hope Damien Seguin, while Lucy Macgregor, Annie Lush and Ally Martin won all three of their opening round robin matches in the Elliot 6m women’s match racing event.

The world number ones overcame Skandia Team GBR teammates Katie Archer, Lauren Martel and Nicky Muller, plus the Swedish team helmed by Sofia Brander and France’s Anne Le Helley to maintain their 100% record.

In the only other race action of the day, the British Sonar and Star crews fared less well, with John Robertson, Hannah Stodel and Steve Thomas picking up a sixth in the sole race of the nine-boat Paralympic Sonar fleet, with John Gimson and Ed Greig picking up a fifth in the seven-boat Star event.  

Racing at the French Olympic Sailing Week is set to resume on Monday 26 April, with the final medal races scheduled for Friday 30 April. 

For the latest news and information, visit www.skandiateamgbr.com or follow us on Twitter (@skandiateamgbr) for race updates during the regatta.