The relentless Mediterranean “big easterlies” continued to punish the world’s elite today at the 57th French Olympic Week, testing the physical limits of Bermuda’s top sailors.
While the wind strength dropped slightly, a “boat-breaking” chop in Hyères Bay turned the session into an exercise in damage limitation. In the ILCA 7 fleet, Sebastian Kempe and Campbell Patton found the heavy air a struggle. Kempe, who started the day in a promising 17th, slid 11 places to 28th overall after a frustrating set of finishes, including a 40th-place result in the final race of the afternoon.
Campbell Patton also faced an uphill battle against the aggressive swell, recording a 39th, 25th, and 44th to drop to 37th overall with a net total of 155 points.
However, there was a bright spot in the ILCA 6 Silver Fleet. Adriana Penruddocke produced a masterclass in resilience, taking a commanding victory in the day’s opening race. Despite a 21st-place finish in the second outing, Penruddocke remains at the summit of the Silver Fleet standings with 18 net points.
As the regatta nears its conclusion, Penruddocke’s ability to find the front of the pack in such demanding conditions provides a much-needed boost for the Bermudian contingent.
