 Day three of the 56th French Olympic Week in Hyères proved to be a pivotal one for Bermuda's Sebastian Kempe, who enjoyed a significant climb up the leaderboard. However, it was a more challenging day for compatriot Adriana Penruddocke, amidst the 727 sailors from 56 nations competing in the prestigious event.
As the winds built throughout the day, ranging from a moderate 10-15 knots to a more testing 20-30 knots, both Penruddocke in the ILCA 6 fleet (76 boats) and Kempe in the larger ILCA 7 fleet (112 boats) were eager to capitalise on the increased breeze.
Kempe, competing in the ILCA 7 class, had a stellar day on the water, participating in three races. He started strongly, finishing 5th in the first race of the day, which was the fourth race of the overall series. He then went on to secure a brilliant victory in the second race of the day. Kempe concluded his day with a solid 8th place finish in the final race. This consistent performance saw him amass 29 net points, propelling him up the standings from 15th to an impressive 4th overall. Hong Kong's Nicholas Halliday currently leads the ILCA 7 fleet with 12 net points.
For Penruddocke in the ILCA 6 fleet, the day presented more of a struggle. Starting the day in 23rd position, she unfortunately slipped one place to 24th overall, ending the day with 46 net points. Denmark's Anna Munch continues to lead the ILCA 6 fleet with a remarkably low score of 5 net points. Penruddocke's day saw her across the finish line in 17th place in the first race, followed by a 14th place in the second, and a 13th place in her final race of the day.
While Kempe will be buoyed by his significant progress up the rankings, Penruddocke will be looking to regroup and improve her position in the remaining races as the 56th French Olympic Week continues in Hyères. The stronger winds clearly suited Kempe, and both Bermudian sailors will be hoping for favourable conditions in the days to come.
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