Following on from his gold medal win at the Princess Sofia Regatta, Palma last month Ben was on fine sailing form once again securing himself a gold medal with a day to spare. He headed into the final medal race with an unassailable 29 point lead, winning to end the event with a 40 point margin over silver medallist Zach Railey (USA). 

Ben Ainslie © Copyright Skandia Team GBR

Match Race Girls, Lucy, Annie and Kate sailed consistently all week winning their first World Cup medal since the Rolex Miami OCR last January (2010). Lucy commented “It’s fantastic winning here in Hyeres. Kate and Annie did an awesome job, it was pretty tricky conditions all week so we’re really pleased to be on the top of the podium after a couple where we haven’t been,”

“We didn’t expect it to be three-nil [in the medal race] really.  None of the matches were easy – the breeze kept us on our toes and especially in that last match we managed to come back from behind, stay calm and get the win to finish off three-nil so that was just fantastic.

Match Race Girls celebrating their win © Copyright Skandia Team GBR

The trio, who donned Annie Lush-designed makeshift crowns on the water after their victory, in tribute to Friday’s Royal Wedding celebrations, have been working with a new Dutch coach Maurice Paardenkooper, this year and are excited about their progress.

“It’s great working with Maurice,” Lucy concluded.  “The three of us are really enjoying it and we feel that there’s loads more to come so that’s the most exciting thing looking forward.”

It was also a fantastic result for new 470 Team Hannah and Saskia, competing in their second major event together [the first being the Princess Sofia Regatta in March]. The team endured a disappointing opening day being forced to retire from the first race to repair damage to their boat sustained after a coach boat hit them prior to the start. They completed the second race following running repairs on the water, but with their boat still taking on water they could only manage 26^th. 

However, the Girls bounced back winning a silver medal finishing behind 470 leaders, the Spanish crew of Tara Pacheco-Berta Betanzos [who were assured of gold] and ahead of fellow Skandia Team GBR team mates, Penny Clark and Katrina Hughes.    

“It’s been a bit of a balance for us [at this event].” Clark continued.  “We’re still very much at the beginning of our partnership and there are still many learning opportunities, but we also wanted to get the best result we can here.

“We’ve made some massive gains forward since Palma, particularly on our starting and upwind communications and you can see the difference,” Mills explained. 

“The result is great for us as well as just knowing in ourselves that we’ve got better.”

470 Girls Saskia Clark and Hannah Mills © Copyright Skandia Team GBR

“I think having two teams on the podium is maybe unheard of for British 470 women’s sailing,” Saskia Clark added, “so it’s a really exciting place for the squad and we’ll hopefully keep pushing forward together through until next summer.”
 

Helena Lucas gave Team Volvo for life their forth medal, finishing the week in 3^rd place in the 2.4mR.  “ It’s been a bizarre week of racing that I am relieved to be coming home with a bronze medal in my pocket.  It’s certainly been a week of ups and downs, not just for me but most of the fleet. It was great Annie, Lucy and Kate won the match racing!  We were a medal winning apartment [the Girls shared an apartment  for the Regatta].  Also, the Skandia team GBR Girls, showed the Boys the way for once, winning six medals to their two (although the Guys medals were gold!) Team Volvo did a great job adding to the overal total with our four medals” commented Helena.

Olympic champion Paul Goodison had a frustrating start to the Regatta, however he hit back and improved during the week finishing the event in 10^th place.

“Overall it’s been a good performance by Skandia Team GBR at this World Cup event, with some fantastic results in the women’s classes after we missed out in those events in Palma,” said RYA Olympic Manager Stephen Park.

“It’s great to see Lucy, Annie and Kate back to winning ways in the match racing, and it’s a unique situation for us to have two women’s 470 teams on the podium so it’s great to see that both teams are continuing to up their game and challenge at the front of the fleet.”

“Across the programme though we’re on track with where we need to be in our 2012 preparations.”

The sailors have a busy few months ahead competing on Olympic waters at the Skandia Sail for Gold Regatta in June, followed by the Olympic Test Event in August.  

Skandia GBR medal tally from the 2011 French Olympic Sailing Week, Hyeres.
Gold

Ben Ainslie (Finn)
Lucy Macgregor, Annie Lush and Kate Macgregor (Women’s Match Racing)
Alexandra Rickham and Niki Birrell (SKUD)

Silver
Hannah Mills and Saskia Clark (470 Women)

Megan Pascoe (2.4mR)
Alex Hovden and Kate Mannerings (SKUD)

Bronze
Penny Clark and Katrina Hughes (470 Women)
Helena Lucas (2.4mR)

Bryony Shaw (RS:X Women)

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