{"id":618562,"date":"2026-04-20T05:47:14","date_gmt":"2026-04-20T05:47:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/618562\/"},"modified":"2026-04-20T05:47:14","modified_gmt":"2026-04-20T05:47:14","slug":"australian-sailing-team-ready-to-race-french-olympic-week","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/618562\/","title":{"rendered":"Australian Sailing Team ready to race French Olympic Week"},"content":{"rendered":"

<\/a><\/p>\n

Australian Sailing Team ready to race French Olympic Week
\n by Lisa Darmanin \/ Australian Sailing Team 19 Apr 22:40 PDT
\n 20-25 April 2026<\/p>\n


\n Grae Morris – Semaine Olympique Fran\u00e7aise \u00a9 Sailing Energy<\/p>\n

\"Henri-Lloyd
<\/a>\"A+T
<\/a><\/p>\n


\nThe second Sailing Grand Slam of the 2026 season heads to Hy\u00e8res, France, this week, with the French Olympic Week regatta set to welcome hundreds of sailors from more than 50 nations across all 10 Olympic classes. Australia will be strongly represented, with 43 entries preparing to take to the start line. \n<\/p>\n


\nA fixture on the international calendar for more than half a century, French Olympic Week is one of the sport’s most respected testing grounds. Set on the Bay of Hy\u00e8res in the Mediterranean, the regatta is renowned for its range of conditions from the powerful Mistral and strong easterly winds to light seabreezes, with this week expected to deliver a bit of everything. \n<\/p>\n


\nFresh off his victory at the opening Sailing Grand Slam in Spain, double Olympic Champion Matt Wearn will be one to watch as he lines up against a 136-boat ILCA7 fleet. \n<\/p>\n


\n“It’s looking like we are expecting a classic Hy\u00e8res with a bit of everything on the forecast,” shared Wearn. “It will be a great test for those that can master every condition.” \n<\/p>\n


\n“As always in the ILCA the fleet is about as competitive as you can get. All the main protagonists are here and ready to fight as well as plenty of younger guys looking to show their worth, so it’s going to be a tough week of racing.” \n<\/p>\n


\nThe regatta marks another important step early in the LA 2028 cycle, building on momentum from the season opener in Palma and offering a fresh benchmark across the fleet. \n<\/p>\n


\nAustralian Sailing High Performance Director Iain Brambell said this regatta provides a valuable opportunity to measure progress in a high-quality international field. \n<\/p>\n


\n“We’ve seen some strong early indicators across the team this season, particularly in terms of depth and consistency, and this week gives us another chance to assess that across a full range of conditions,” he said. \n<\/p>\n


\n“At this stage, it’s about continuing to build and actively progressing the learnings from Palma. Pushing towards repeatable podium performances, exposing athletes to the intricacies of decision making under pressure, refining execution, and making sure we’re progressively tracking in an upward direction as the cycle unfolds.” \n<\/p>\n


\nWith world-class competition and a racecourse known to challenge sailors, French Olympic Week will provide another key test for the Australian Sailing Team on the road to LA 2028. \n<\/p>\n


\nRacing gets under way on 20 April and runs through to the weekend. The board classes (iQFOiL and Formula Kite) will contest their Finals Series on 24 April, with the remaining boat classes to decide medals on 25 April. \n<\/p>\n


\nFull list of entries can be found here<\/a>. \n<\/p>\n


\nAustralian Sailing Team (AST)<\/a>, Australian Sailing Squad (AS Squad)<\/a>, Australian Sailing Futures (ASF), State Sailing Performance Program (SSPP)<\/a> and other Australian (AUS) entries at French Olympic Week: \n<\/p>\n


\nILCA 6 (83 entries) \n<\/p>\n


\nElyse Ainsworth (AST)

\nMara Stransky (AST)

\nZoe Thomson (AST)

\nCasey Imeneo (AS Squad)

\nEvie Saunders (AS Squad)

\nEllen Sampson (ASF)

\nLili McAullay (ASF)

\nSylvie Stannage (AUS)

\nFrances Beebe (AUS) \n<\/p>\n


\nILCA 7 (136 entries) \n<\/p>\n


\nMatt Wearn (AST)

\nEthan McAullay (AST)

\nZac Littlewood (AST)

\nMichael Compton (AS Squad)

\nLawson McAullay (AS Squad)

\nIsaac Schotte (AS Squad)

\nAlexander Bijkerk (SSPP)

\nHamish Gilsenan (SSSP)

\nJulian Taylor (SSSP)

\nLuke Elliot (AUS)

\nPatrick Scally (AUS) \n<\/p>\n


\niQFOiL – Men (66 entries) \n<\/p>\n


\nGrae Morris (AST)

\nRory Meehan (AS Squad)

\nPhillip Crispey (ASF)

\nJarrod Jones (ASF)

\nMatthew Quinlan (SSPP) \n<\/p>\n


\niQFOiL – Women (41 entries) \n<\/p>\n


\nAnna Crispey (ASF)

\nSammie Costin (AUS) \n<\/p>\n


\nFormula Kite – Men (40 entries) \n<\/p>\n


\nOscar Timm (SSPP) \n<\/p>\n


\nFormula Kite – Women (23 entries) \n<\/p>\n


\nBrieana Whitehead (AST) \n<\/p>\n


\nNacra 17 (30 entries) \n<\/p>\n


\nBrin Liddell \/ Rhiannan Brown (AST)

\nRuben Booth \/ Rita Booth (AS Squad)

\nArchie Gargett \/ Sarah Hoffman (AS Squad)

\nJake Liddell \/ Niamh Meehan (AS Squad) \n<\/p>\n


\n49er (48 entries) \n<\/p>\n


\nJack Ferguson \/ Jack Hilderbrand (AS Squad)

\nOtto Henry \/ Shaun Connor (AS Squad)

\nHarry Price \/ Max Paul (AS Squad)

\nKurt Hansen \/ Charlie Zeeman (ASF)

\nDaniel Links \/ Keizo Tomishima (ASF) \n<\/p>\n


\n49erFX (24 entries) \n<\/p>\n


\nLaura Harding \/ Annie Wilmot (AS Squad)

\nBrooke Wilson (ASF) \/ Evie Haseldine (AS Squad) \n<\/p>\n


\n470 (49 entries) \n<\/p>\n


\nSophie Jackson \/ Austin Cross (ASF)

\nAlice Buchanan \/ Angus Higgins (SSPP)
\n
\n
\n
\n \n <\/p>\n

\"Zhik
<\/a>\"Maritimo
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