470 class at French Olympic Week Hyères - Day 3
by International 470 Class Association 22 Apr 17:11 BST
18-25 April 2026
Spanish Duo Dominates as Conditions Reshape Gold Fleet
What a day on the water at French Olympic Week in Hyères. Strong afternoon winds delivered high-intensity racing and significantly reshuffled the leaderboard.
Three races were completed in the Gold Fleet, where the top 19 teams are competing following the qualification series.
Spain's Jordi Xammar and Marta Cardona dominated the day, securing three consecutive race wins. Their outstanding performance in heavy conditions highlighted their control and consistency, allowing them to extend their lead to a four-point advantage over the second-placed crew.
Holding steady in second place are Martin Wrigley and Bettine Harris, currently the most consistent team across the fleet.
The French duo Manon Pennaneac'h and Pierre Williot also impressed, climbing an impressive fourteen positions to move into third overall. Their strong showing in the Gold Fleet marks a significant turnaround after finishing 17th in the qualification series.
"The conditions today were around 20 to 25 knots, with waves of about one meter. We did three races, and for us it was a very good day because we moved up to third place after being 17th this morning, so it’s quite a big improvement for us", said Manon Pennaneac’h.
We were very fast today and managed to sail really well, so we are very happy. Tomorrow, the goal is simply to have good starts, enjoy ourselves, and keep the speed up, added Pierre Williot.
Another notable move came from Matisse Pacaud and Lucie De Gennes, known for their strong performances in high-wind conditions. The French pair advanced from 13th to 5th place, confirming their capability in demanding racing conditions.
It is worth noting that sailors enter the Gold Fleet carrying forward their ranking positions as points from the qualification stage.
Racing continues as the competition intensifies in Hyères. Two more days remain for the 470 sailors, featuring gold fleet racing, and on Saturday, the top ten teams will compete in the medal series.
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