Mengxi Wei/Haiyan Gao © Richard Langdon / Sailing Energy / World Sailing
OPENING DAY IN HYÈRES SETS SCENE FOR ENTHRALLING WEEK OF COMPETITION
24 Apr 2018The opening scene at the third round of Sailing's World Cup Series in Hyères, France saw the 647 sailors from 46 nations remain cautious as they laid down markers to build on for a full week of competition.
In a variable 6-11 knot easterly breeze, the competitors looked to achieve good finish positions that would put them in a strong place on the leaderboard for the latter part of the week.
The early races have set the scene and with a light wind forecast ahead, it's going to be a mesmerising week of competition with all the competitors expecting more close racing.
Highlights from the opening day can be viewed here - https://youtu.be/uXEQHiSEqjc
China's Mengxi Wei and Haiyan Gao grabbed the early advantage in the Women's 470 and are two points clear of Hannah Mills and Eilidh McIntyre (GBR). Camille Lecointre, Rio 2016 bronze medallist, making her first World Cup appearance with Aloise Retornaz (FRA), won the first race of the day and is third overall.
Anton Dahlberg and Fredrik Bergström (SWE) are top in the Men's 470 fleet, two points ahead of Hao Lan and Bo Zhou (CHN). Race victories went to Paul Snow Hansen and Dan Wilcox (NZL) and Tetsuya Isozaki and Akira Takayanagi (JPN).
Racing will resume on Wednesday 25 April at 11:00 local time.
By Daniel Smith - World Sailing
Source: World Sailing