2026 French Olympic Week, Day 1: Sam Bacon and Blake McGlashan lead New Zealand charge on opening day in Hyères as windfoilers also shine

New Zealand sailors have made a flying start to the 57th French Olympic Week in Hyères, with several athletes inside the top 10 after an opening day marked by light, shifting breezes.

In the men’s 49er skiff, Sam Bacon and Blake McGlashan enjoyed the standout performance of the 20-strong Kiwi contingent. The duo, who finished the season-opening Princess Sofia Regatta strongly a fortnight ago, continued their solid form, posting scores of 5, 3, and 1 to sit third overall after three races. Teammates Mattias Coutts and Oscar Gunn rounded out Day 1 in 23rd place, while Francesco Kayrouz and Hamish McLaren sit 27th.

Sam Bacon and Blake McGlashan claimed a race win to be third overall on the 49er leaderboard. Photos / Sailing Energy

The women’s iQFOiL fleet saw further strong Kiwi performances, with all three competitors in the top 10 after four slalom races. Stella Bilger won the opening race and followed with 7, 5, and a discarded 11th for fourth overall. Aimee Bright is sixth after consecutive third-place finishes, while Paris 2024 Olympian Veerle ten Have sits ninth.

Josh Armit has also made an early impression in the men’s iQFOiL, with a best result of third in the third and final slalom race of the day. He is eighth overall in his first international action of the season, with countryman Eli Liefting six points and seven places back. Blake Hinsley sits 53rd.

Stella Bilger is fourth in the women's iQFOiL after Day 1. Photos / Sailing Energy

In the 49erFX fleet, Nicola and Rebecca Hume will be looking to improve on their 24th on Day 2 tonight (NZ time). Lukas Walton-Keim recorded two top-10 finishes to sit 19th in the men’s kitefoil, while Lochy Naismith is 33rd. Lucy Bilger is 15th in the women’s competition after the early exchanges.

Greta Pilkington rounded out the opening day in the ILCA 6 with an eighth-place qualifying result and is 40th overall after two races, while Micah Wilkinson and Kate Stewart sit eighth in the Nacra 17 following a fifth-place finish in their last race on Day 1.

The French Olympic Week has drawn 705 sailors from 59 nations, with Italian crews leading several fleets early on, including returning Olympic champions Ruggero Tita and Caterina Banti in Nacra 17.

Full results and latest standings here.

Click here for live tracking of Day 2’s racing.