The fan was turned up for the final day at ISAF Sailing World Cup Hyères as an exciting finale played out across two racing areas.
18-20 knots of breeze ensured the regatta concluded with thrills and spills aplenty. Seven races unravelled on the live broadcast area – click here for a full replay or view below – whilst a further three concluded nearby.
Across the ten Olympic disciplines, ISAF Sailing World Cup Hyères medals were awarded, a share of the €72,000 was distributed and ISAF Sailing World Cup Final spots were picked up.
Women’s RS:X
Lilian De Geus (NED) booked her ticket to the Rio 2016 Olympic Games and the Abu Dhabi World Cup Final by taking gold in the Women’s RS:X.
The Dutch sailor had a solid advantage heading into the Medal Race and knew a good performance would seal the deal. She put on an outstanding show in the Medal Race and established a commanding lead on the final downwind.
She pulled away to take her first race win of the week, ending 11 points clear of Charline Picon (FRA).
It was a high scoring affair in the Women’s RS:X with ups and downs a plenty.
Picon came through in second in the Medal Race to take silver, a result she was pleasantly surprised with, “If you had said to me three days ago ‘you’ll win silver this week’ I would have said that it was impossible but I’d never give up.
“I never gave up, I tried to fight and I’m happy because I have silver but I’m not happy about my week as I had a lot of bad races.”
Patricia Freitas (BRA) pushed Picon hard in the Medal Race in an attempt to overthrow her but at the penultimate rounding she misjudged the layline which allowed the French sailor to pass. Nonetheless Freitas came through in third, taking bronze.
Top Three
1 – Lilian de Geus (NED) – 90
2 – Charline Picon (FRA) – 101
3 – Patricia Freitas (BRA) – 104
Results RSX Women SWC Hyeres 2015
Men’s RS:X
A competition made up of the world’s most skilled male windsurfers was always going to be a tough challenge for all competitors. Throughout the week there have been many ups and downs with multiple race winners.
France’s Pierre Le Coq started the day knowing that he would take home a medal. The Frenchman entered the Medal Race at the top of the leaderboard with a 15 point lead. An eighth or better would seal the deal and Le Coq finished in seventh to wrap up gold.
Piotr Myszka (POL) was on top form in the big breeze, coming second to take silver whilst a fourth for Byron Kokkalanis (GRE) saw him drop into bronze medal position.
Louis Giard (FRA) revelled in the big breeze and took the Medal Race win. With three race victories, Giard recorded the most out of any racer but was not consistent and ended up eighth overall.
Top Three
1 – Pierre le Coq (FRA) – 74
2 – Piotr Myszka (POL – 81 -
3 – Byron Kokkalanis (GRE) – 83
Results RSX Men SWC Hyeres 2015
Text and photos by ISAF
