Finding Form Early: Opening Day Shapes Up Across All Fleets in Hyeres

Day one of racing at the Semaine Olympique Française in Hyères — the second stop of the Sailing Grand Slam — delivered classic light-wind Mediterranean conditions and a wide-open fight across all three Olympic skiff and foiling classes.

In the Nacra 17 fleet (36 boats), all eyes were on the return of Caterina Banti and Ruggero Tita — and they did not disappoint.

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In their first regatta back since the Paris Olympics, after Banti’s retirement in September 2024 and a year where Tita split time between SailGP and America’s Cup campaigns, the Italian duo lead the standings with just 3 net points (2, 2, 1). There had been plenty of speculation that Tita would move on with a new crew, but instead, he managed to lure Banti back — reportedly with a mix of persistence, fun training sessions, and a few well-timed breakfasts and smoothies. Rusty? Maybe, as they joked themselves — but it certainly didn’t show. Behind them, Britain’s John Gimson and Anna Burnet also sit on 3 net points (1, 6, 2), while Italy’s Federico Figlia Di Granara and Caterina Sedmak are third with 7 net points (3, 4, 17). Now fully focused on both the America’s Cup and their Olympic campaign, Tita and Banti have clearly set their sights on LA 2028 — and a potential third gold medal.

18 to 25 April 2026. 57th French Olympic Week Hyères – TPM (SOF)2026.
© Sailing Energy / French Olympic Week Hyères – TPM

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In the 49er fleet, 45 teams split into yellow and blue groups tackled three races each, producing a tightly packed leaderboard. At the top, the American pair Andrew Mollerus and Trevor Bornarth lead overall with 3 net points (2, 1, 5 discard), tied on points with Ireland’s Robert Dickson and Sean Waddilove (3 net points, 1, 2, 5 discard). The Irish, after a run of challenging regattas, look to have found their rhythm again — sharp off the line and consistently making the right calls in tricky, light conditions. Just behind them, New Zealand’s Sam Bacon and Blake McGlashan sit third on 4 net points (5 discard, 3, 1). The day also featured a tight battle among the Americans, with a photo-finish moment involving teammates Nevin Snow and Ian MacDiarmid — last year’s Hyères winners — highlighting just how competitive the fleet already is on day one.

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Over in the 49erFX fleet, with 24 teams on the start line, the racing was just as unpredictable: three races, three different winners, and a shuffled leaderboard as a result. But one team stood out for their consistency — Italy’s Sofia Giunchiglia and Giulia Schio, who lead the fleet on 3 net points (1, 2 discard, 2). While most teams picked up at least one deeper score, the Italians managed to stay solid across all races, avoiding the kind of results that often force early discards. China’s Yingqian Wang and Xiaoya Su sit second with 7 net points (2, 5, 18 discard), and Estonia’s Helen Pais and Helen Ausman are third on 9 net points (8, 1, 11 discard). It’s only day one, but with that level of consistency, the Italians have already put early pressure on the rest of the fleet.