The 53rd Semaine Olympique Française de Hyères - TPM opened in classic Côte d’Azur style on Monday (25 April) with the world’s best rising to the strong winds through a field of 751 sailors from over 50 countries. It was like they had never been away.
After missing two years because of COVID, it was the most welcome and vivacious of returns for a venue and event that means so much to so many.
Racing began at 11am local time in glorious sunshine, under cloudless skies and with strong offshore westerly winds of 15-20 knots.
A choppy sea state, more so on the more the easterly courses with less protection from the bay and Îles d’Or, as well as wind gusts between 25-30, kept everyone on their toes.
Both the world and sailing have changed since the last Semaine Olympique Française de Hyères in 2019. The 10 classes that will be contested in Marseille for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games were in Hyères — which is just 50 miles west down the coast — for the first time. And it was flight time for the five foiling classes on show.
Olympic Champion Quality
The quality of competition throughout the fleets was immediately demonstrated at the start of the day in the men’s ILCA 7, where Matthew Wearn, Australia’s Olympic champion, and Philipp Buhl, Germany’s 2020 World Champion, traded wins at the head of a lead group that dominated both races.
“Today was very very nice, I like Hyères and I prefer a windy Hyères to a soft Hyères,” Buhl, who has particular reason to have a soft spot for Hyères, said.
“It’s a special place for me because it was my first junior European title in 2007, my first European Cup cup here in 2008, I did my first World Cup Medal Race here in 2009 and ten years ago, in 2012, I had my first ever World Cup win here.
“It’s quite funny to look at the results seeing Tom Burton, Slingsby — Matthew Wearn was in the fleet. So, I have some very good memories.”
Also competing in the ILCA 7 class are Ireland’s Ewan McMahon and Finn Lynch, who place 18th and 34th overall after two races, respectively.
Other Irish contenders to watch out for this week are Aoife Hopkins in the ILCA 6, who currently stands in 17th overall after her first two races, plus two contingents in the 49er.
Robert Dickson and Seán Waddilove are in 23rd overall after two races, with Seafra Guilfoyle and Johnny Durcan not far behind in 27th. See the full results table HERE.