Australian sailors ready to build momentum at French Olympic Week

Shaun Connor Hyeres 2024 © Sailing Energy

Australian sailors are ready to launch into the next phase of their international season at French Olympic Week. Held in Hyères, in the south of France, the regatta has been a proving ground for over 50 years, known for its strong fleets, challenging conditions, and high-pressure racing.

Following on from their performances at the recent Trofeo Princesa Sofia Regatta in Palma, the team is eager to maintain momentum, build on the lessons and continue laying the foundations for future success.

High Performance Director Iain Brambell believes competitions like French Olympic Week are critical to the team's long-term development. "International competition is vital to the growth and development of sailors at every level within the High Performance program," Brambell said. "French Olympic Week offers an excellent test for each of the Australian sailors here to build on the learnings from Palma, push their limits, and establish early-season performances that will be crucial for selection into the 2026 Australian Sailing National and Futures Squads."

As part of Australian Sailing's High Performance framework, athletes are assessed against clear annual benchmarks to determine their individual athlete categorisation within the high performance program, a system designed to drive continuous improvement and reward repeatable performances against the clearly identified performance standards. More information on 2026 Athlete Assessment & Categorisation can be found on Australian Sailing Team website, or directly here.

Australia is well represented across the fleets in Hyères, with Grae Morris set to hit the water among a strong Australian contingent in the iQFOiL class, aiming to continue his sensational season after claiming two gold medals already in 2025. Determined and focused, Morris will be chasing another step up the podium after finishing with silver in Hyères last year.

Australia's Nacra 17 sailors are back in action with four teams on the start line. Looking to build on their impressive showing in Spain, where three of the four crews making the Medal Race, they'll be looking to reinforce their top-ten credentials against another strong fleet.

The 49er fleet will see six Australian teams competing, as emerging partnerships continue to develop and test themselves on the international stage. Regattas like French Olympic Week provide invaluable opportunities to gain experience under pressure and refine their teamwork against some of the world's best.

Three Aussie teams will contest the Mixed 470, guided by Performance Pathways Coach Amelia Catt, having successfully transitioned her integral expertise as an Australian 470 elite sailor to high performance coach. Australia's Mixed 470 teams remain focused on building experience, resilience, and tactical sharpness in a highly competitive international environment.

While the Australian Sailing National ILCA Squads and many top international ILCA sailors have chosen not to compete in Hyères and instead have turned their attention to preparing for next month's pinnacle event, the 2025 ILCA World Championships in Qingdao, China (10-17 May). A small group of Performance Pathways sailors are eagerly seeking the opportunity to represent and compete in the French Olympic Week and continue their ongoing learnings and development.

The national 49erFX squad will also be absent, managing a more back-end heavy season. However, one 49erFX Futures team will proudly represent Australia on the Mediterranean waters this week, continuing their international journey.

For the Australian sailors, French Olympic Week is about continuing to build the skills and resilience needed for long-term success and repeatable podium performances.

All entrants can be found here

Entrants of the Australian Sailing Team (AST), Australian Sailing Pathway Team (ASPT), and other Australian entries (AUS) of French Olympic Week:

49er - 69 Entries

Jack Ferguson (ASPT) and Jack Hildebrand (AUS)
Otto Henry (AUS) and Shaun Connor (ASPT)
Harry Price (AUS) and Max Paul (ASPT)
Daniel Links and Keizo Tomishima (AUS)
Liam Millar and Will Bridge (AUS)
Jacob Marks and Charlie Zeeman (AUS)

49erFX - 38 Entries

Lily Richardson and India Gilbert (AUS)

Formula Kite Men's - 64 Entries

Oscar Timm (AUS)

ILCA 6 - 75 Entries

Francis Beebe (AUS)
Sylvie Stannage (AUS)
Ellen Sampson (AUS)

ILCA 7 - 124 Entries

Patrick Scally (AUS)
Julian Taylor (AUS)

iQFOiL Men's - 80 Entries

Grae Morris (AST)
Philip Cripsey (AUS)
Joseph Folley (AUS)
Jarrod Jones (AUS)
Scott Luxton (AUS)
Rory Meehan (AUS)
Matthew Quinlan (AUS)

iQFOiL Women's - 44 Entries

Samantha Costin (AUS)
Anna Crispey (AUS)

Mixed 470 - 40 Entries

Ashlee Daunt and Brayden Daunt (AUS)
Ben Hinks and Fallon Katz (AUS)
Sophie Jackson and James Jackson (AUS)

Nacra 17 - 30 Entries

Ruben Booth and Rita Booth (ASPT)
Archie Gargett and Sarah Hoffman (ASPT)
Brin Liddell and Rhiannan Brown (ASPT)
Jake Liddell (ASPT) and Niamh Meehan (AUS)