Semaine Olympique Française at La Rochelle - Day 1
by Aurélia Filho 6 Oct 2015 21:15 BST
5-10 October 2015
This first day of the Semaine Olympique Française started off to a flying start in La Rochelle, with strong wind and sea conditions. Indeed, its facing a beefed up weather that the competitors raced today with more than a twenty knot South West wind, gusts of 35 knots and strong swells. This morning, 10:30 marked the first races of the competition, but all of the regattas scheduled for the day couldn't be initiated due to the hard sailing conditions. Therefore, only the RS:X Men, Laser, Laser Radial, and Finn were able to compete today.
RS: X Men
The windsurfers were the first to start the show on their sailing area. On this first and last race of the day, France showed off its colours with no-less than seven French competitors on the Top 10. Benoit Bigot takes the head of the fleet in front of his fellow compatriot, Igor de L'Hermite and the La Rochelle local Adrien Mestre, respectively second and third.
Adrien Mestre (FRA) – 3rd provisional ranking: "We had a very windy day, very physical, we had to be comfortable in those uneasy conditions, it was playing in front, no mistakes allowed. It wasn't tactically difficult, but not easy technically I achieved a good race, finishing 3rd. There's plenty young people in this competition, a lot of potential in many of them, but its stay open for a podium, why not a victory, but I'm going to have to fetch some race upfront."
Finn
Looking at the oldest of the Olympic class (Olympic class since 1952) the very windy conditions of the day still allowed the competitors to race 2 rounds. Italia success in the face the sailing area pulls Poggi Giorgio to the top of the provisional ranking after winning both races, and Voltolini Enrico in 3rd place. 2nd place goes to Sweeden with Max Salminen after a race in 3rd and a race in 2nd.
Poggi Giorgio (ITA) – Head of the provisional ranking: "It has been a good first day. We were able to do two rounds in a very sustainable wind. I am very happy, I won both races today. On the other hand the conditions were quite difficult, more than 25 knots and big waves. The goal of this competition for me is to train and obtain as much confidence as possible in view of our World Championship at the end of November in New-Zealand."
Laser and Laser Radial
The Laser class men fought 2 races today. At this game, Jean-Baptiste Bernaz is the best. This summer Silver Medallist of the Rio Test Event and 4th of the Qingdao World Cup last step, won the two races today. Behind him, the Russian Sergey Komissarov takes the 2nd place on the provisional ranking, after two solid races (2nd and 4th). Today's podium is completed with the Italian Alessio Spedoni.
Jean-Baptiste Bernaz (FRA) – Head of the provisional ranking: "We had sporty conditions to start the Semaine Olympique française. We raced two rounds today, I won both. I was going fast, I was at ease, and took the right choices. In our class there are few competitors, particularly the Guatemalan who won the Pan-American Games and the Belgium who's ranked in the World's Top 10. It is the end of the season for our class, I'm feeling a bit the strain of the season, but feeling good, the SOF is the last of the season for me."
In the Women category, the head of the race return to the Danish Anne-Marie Rindom, who does 4th on the first race and 2nd on the second. Behind her we find a French trio with Amélie Riou, 2nd place, Pernelle Michon in 3rd, and the local girl of the competition Mathilde De Kerangat on the 4th place of this provisional ranking.
Mathilde De Kerangat (FRA) – 4th provisional ramking: "A physical day for us, and as our sailing area is quite far away, there is a lot of sea with big swells. It's been awhile since I last sailed in this conditions, it was awesome. Today was a good day for me and after my recuperation, I'll be ready for tomorrow's fight."
Other classes
The wind blew stronger and stronger throughout the day and the race committee decided to postpone the Nacra 17, 49ers, 49ers FX and RS:X Women till tomorrow.
The show must go on and the races will start at 10: 30 a.m. tomorrow and all the classes should be on the water!
All results are available at sof.ffvoile.com/sof2015gbr