2026 French Olympic Week: Josh Armit, Humes to launch season as New Zealand sailing squad set for Hyères test

Mon 20 Apr 2026

The international season resumes this week for the New Zealand sailing squad at French Olympic Week in Hyères, following a promising start at the Princess Sofia Regatta in Palma a fortnight ago.

More than 700 sailors from 59 nations will line up across the Bay of Hyères overnight (NZ time), a venue long regarded as one of Olympic sailing’s most tactical. Conditions are expected to be light and tricky early, before stronger winds shape the latter half of the regatta.

The event marks the start of the international campaign for Kiwi windfoiler Josh Armit, who finished fourth on his Olympic debut in Marseille in 2024. He returns to the world stage, aiming to push toward the front of the fleet, joined by Eli Liefting and Blake Hinsley, both looking to rebound after a challenging opening regatta in Spain.

In the women’s iQFOiL, Stella Bilger, Veerle ten Have, and Aimee Bright continue their seasons, with Bilger narrowly missing the medal series in Palma.

Nicola and Rebecca Hume. Photo / Insight Media

Another key inclusion comes in the 49erFX, where Auckland sisters Nicola and Rebecca Hume will contest their first major international regatta of the season.

Their arrival follows a mixed team performance in Palma, marked by shifting offshore breezes and illness across the squad George Gautrey was a standout, finishing fifth in the ILCA 7 and winning a medal race under the new finals format, though he is not competing in Hyères.

Micah Wilkinson and Kate Stewart sailed in their first international regatta in Palma. Photo / Sailing Energy

There were encouraging signs elsewhere. Micah Wilkinson and Kate Stewart placed 14th in the Nacra 17 in their first major regatta together, showing promising pace in qualifying and gold fleet racing. In the 49er, both Mattias Coutts and Oscar Gunn, and Francesco Kayrouz and Hamish McLaren reached the gold fleet, while Sam Bacon and Blake McGlashan improved steadily through the week. Greta Pilkington also impressed in the ILCA 6, claiming a race win on her way to 20th overall.

New Zealand will again be represented across multiple classes in Hyères, including Pilkington, three 49er crews, the Wilkinson–Stewart Nacra 17 pairing, a full iQFOiL contingent, and Lukas Walton-Keim, Lochy Naismith and Lucy Bilger in the Formula Kite fleets. Notably, there will be no New Zealand entry in the ILCA 7 this week.