It was another day of punishing, physical hiking for the ILCA 6 and ILCA 7 fleets as the forecast big easterlies continued to batter the 57th French Olympic Week in Hyères.
The conditions tested the absolute fitness limits of the world’s elite sailors. While the wind strength was slightly reduced from the previous day’s peak, those competing further out in the bay still contended with a relentless, boat-breaking chop. For the Bermudian contingent, it proved to be a testing session of damage limitation as the grueling conditions reshuffled the leaderboard.
In the ILCA 7 fleet, Sebastian Kempe and Campbell Patton both lost ground after a pair of frustrating outings in Hyères Bay. Three races were completed on the day, and Kempe’s consistency was tested early as he crossed the line in 34th in the opening race. He showed flashes of his trademark pace with a 15th-place finish in the second, but a difficult 40th in the final race of the afternoon saw him slide down the standings. Having started the day in a promising 17th position, Kempe fell 11 places to sit 28th overall with 110 net points.
Compatriot Patton also faced a steep uphill battle in the heavy air. Starting the day 35th overall, Patton struggled to find a clean lane in the aggressive Mediterranean swell, recording finishes of 39th, 25th, and 44th. The results see him drop two places to 37th overall with a net total of 155 points as he looks to find more traction in the final stages of the regatta.
There was better news for Bermuda in the ILCA 6 Silver Fleet, where Adriana Penruddocke maintains her resilient form. Two races were contested in the fleet, and Penruddocke dominated the first, taking a commanding victory. Although a 21st-place finish followed in the second race of the day, her opening win ensured she remains at the top of the Silver Fleet standings. She holds steady in 46th place overall with 18 net points in her division, proving her ability to excel even when the conditions are at their most demanding.
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