After biding his time, ILCA 7 sailor Pavlos Kontides, the first Cypriot to ever win an Olympic medal (silver at London 2012) and the winner of a thrilling medal race in Hyères last year, made the perfect start to gold fleet racing at French Olympic Week, winning both races to swoop past the previously dominant British contingent to the top of the leaderboard. But only three points separate the top four.
Britain’s Michael Beckett, the winner in Palma, moved into second despite 11, 3 finishes in the 52-boat gold fleet (because of earlier consistency), and Eliott Hanson (6, 4), second in Hyères last year, slipped from leader to third. Australia’s Olympic champion, Matt Wearn, stayed on all their shoulders after finishing second in the last race after seventh in the first.
Ireland's Finn Lynch Moves up to 36th
The National Yacht Club's Finn Lynch moved up in the Gold fleet to improve from 44th to 36th overall in the ILCA 7 class.
He scored 28th in the day's opening race but took eleventh place this afternoon.
Two more races are scheduled for Friday to conclude fleet racing, but Lynch cannot win a place in Saturday's medal race final.
Results are here