2015 Semaine Olympique Française – Day 1 off to a flying start

by Aurélia Filho on 7 Oct 2015 This first day of the Semaine Olympique Française started off to a flying start in La Rochelle, with strong wind and sea conditions. Indeed, it’s facing a beefed up weather that the competitors raced today with more than a twenty knots South West wind, gusts of 35 knots and strong swells. This morning, 10:30 marked the first races of the competition, but all of the regattas scheduled for the day couldn’t be initiated due to the hard sailing conditions. Therefore, only the RS:X Men, Laser, Laser Radial, and Finn were able to compete today.

RS: X Men

The windsurfers were the first to start the show on their sailing area. On this first and last race of the day, France showed off its colors with no-less than seven French competitors on the Top 10. Benoit Bigot takes the head of the fleet in front of his fellow compatriot, Igor de L’Hermite and the La Rochelle local Adrien Mestre, respectively second and third.

Adrien Mestre (FRA) – Third provisional ranking: “We had a very windy day, very physical, we had to be comfortable in those uneasy conditions, it was playing in front, no mistakes allowed. It wasn’t tactically difficult, but not easy technically I achieved a good race, finishing third. There’s plenty young people in this competition, a lot of potential in many of them, but its stay open for a podium, why not a victory, but i’m going to have to fetch some race upfront.”

Finn

Looking at the oldest of the Olympic class (Olympic class since 1952) the very windy conditions of the day still allowed the competitors to race two rounds. Italia success in the face the sailing area pulls Poggi Giorgio to the top of the provisional ranking after winning both races, and Voltolini Enrico in third place. Second place goes to Sweden with Max Salminen after a race in third and a race in second.

Poggi Giorgio (ITA) – Head of the provisional ranking: “It has been a good first day. We were able to do two rounds in a very sustainable wind. I am very happy, I won both races today. On the other hand the conditions were quite difficult, more than 25 knots and big waves. The goal of this compétition for me is to train and obtain as much confidence as possible in view of our World Championship at the end of November in New-Zealand.”

Laser and Laser Radial

The Laser class men fought two races today. At this game, Jean-Baptiste Bernaz is the best. This summer Silver Medallist of the Rio Test Event and fourth of the Qingdao World Cup last step, won the two races today. Behind him, the Russian Sergey Komissarov takes the second place on the provisional ranking, after two solid races (second and fourth). Today’s podium is completed with the Italian Alessio Spedoni.

Jean-Baptiste Bernaz (FRA) – Head of the provisional ranking: “We had sporty conditions to start the Semaine Olympique française. We raced two rounds today, I won both. I was going fast, I was at ease, and took the right choices. In our class there are few competitors, particularly the Guatemalan who won the Panamerican Games and the Belgium who’s ranked in the World’s Top 10. It is the end of the season for our class, I’m feeling a bit the strain of the season, but feeling good, the SOF is the last of the season for me.”

In the Women category, the head of the race return to the Danish Anne-Marie Rindom, who does fourth on the first race and second on the second. Behind her we find a French trio with Amélie Riou, second place, Pernelle Michon in third, and the local girl of the competition Mathilde De Kerangat on the fourth place of this provisional ranking.

Mathilde De Kerangat (FRA) – fourth provisional ranking : “A physical day for us, and as our sailing area is quite far away, there is a lot of sea with big swells. It’s been awhile since I last sailed in this conditions, it was awesome. Today was a good day for me and after my recuperation, I’ll be ready for tomorrow’s fight.”

Class whom haven’t raced yet

The wind blew stronger and stronger throughout the day and the race committee decided not to postpone the ashore remained Nacra 17, 49ers, 49ers FX and RS:X Women till tomorrow.

The show must go on and the races will start at 10: 30 a.m. tomorrow and all the classes should be on the water!