Lauriane Nolot delivered a decisive final performance on home waters off the French Riviera, securing gold in Formula Kite at the 57th Semaine Olympique Française (SOF) in Hyères. The second leg of the 2026 Sailing Grand Slam saw Nolot and teammate Lysa Caval, who earned bronze in the same fleet, navigate tricky 8-to-10-knot south-westerly breezes on Friday to lock down top honors. Across the week-long regatta, 705 athletes from 59 nations completed 224 races, showcasing established Olympic competitors alongside emerging international sailors.
International contenders also captured podiums in Friday's kitefoil and windfoil finals. Singapore's Maximilian Mader took gold in men's Formula Kite, while Italy's Marta Maggetti and Australia's Grae Morris claimed victories in women's and men's iQFOiL windfoil competition respectively.
Hyères Breeze and Gear Strain: How the Regatta Unfolded
The tactical environment in Hyères shifted across the preliminary and elimination phases. Opening days provided mild 8-to-12-knot conditions on flat water with 20-degree temperatures, allowing Nolot to gain early control of the fleet by winning three of her first four races. Mid-week weather brought an aggressive change, as sustained easterly winds reached 23 to 25 knots with gusts to 28 knots, creating short, punishing chop across the bay.
During Thursday's high-speed slate, kitefoils pushed past 35 knots in heavy seas, putting physical stamina and gear integrity under severe stress. Mechanical reliability proved decisive across multiple classes; notably, Italy's leading Nacra 17 team relinquished their overall lead following equipment breakdown on the water.
National Fencing Success: Team ENE Earns Senior Podiums and Dual Promotions
In national championship news, Team ENE put together a standout performance at the French Senior Fencing Championships held June 3–4. Under-20 épéeist Thaïs Naucelle-Jardel led the club's individual results in Nationale 2 senior women's épée, driving through the tableau to capture her first senior national individual podium with a third-place bronze medal after falling in the semi-finals to Saint-Gratien's Bernigaud.
“C’est une belle médaille de bronze qui fait du bien au moral,” Naucelle-Jardel noted following her bronze finish. “C’est ma première médaille en individuel aux championnats de France cette année. J’ai eu des matchs très compliqués et cela récompense ma belle journée.”
Team ENE built on that momentum during Sunday's team event, where both the men's and women's squads earned promotion to Nationale 1 for the upcoming season. The men's quartet of Arthur Douet, Nathan Fougy, Alexandre Motte, and Vallier Rousseau defeated Lyon 45–39 in the quarter-finals and Levallois 45–36 in the semi-finals. Despite falling 45–40 to Dieppe in the final, their silver medal confirmed a return to France's premier tier six years after their 2017–2018 relegation.
“C’est un très bon bilan avec cette belle médaille d’argent obtenue,” Fougy said. “On savait que nous allions monter. On voulait officialiser les choses avec une médaille à la clé. C’est fait.”
The women's team—comprising Noémie Duval, Ninon Hartvick, Mirana Liorzou, and Naucelle-Jardel—bounced back from a 45–30 quarter-final loss against Levallois to secure seventh place overall, unlocking their debut season in Nationale 1.
| Event | Discipline / Category | Athlete / Team | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 57th SOF Hyères | Women's Formula Kite | Lauriane Nolot (FRA) | Gold Medal |
| 57th SOF Hyères | Women's Formula Kite | Lysa Caval (FRA) | Bronze Medal |
| 57th SOF Hyères | Men's Formula Kite | Maximilian Mader (SGP) | Gold Medal |
| 57th SOF Hyères | Women's iQFOiL Windfoil | Marta Maggetti (ITA) | Gold Medal |
| 57th SOF Hyères | Men's iQFOiL Windfoil | Grae Morris (AUS) | Gold Medal |
| French Senior Championships | Women's N2 Individual Épée | Thaïs Naucelle-Jardel (Team ENE) | Bronze Medal (3rd) |
| French Senior Championships | Men's N2 Team Épée | Team ENE (Douet, Fougy, Motte, Rousseau) | Silver Medal & N1 Promotion |
| French Senior Championships | Women's N2 Team Épée | Team ENE (Duval, Hartvick, Liorzou, Naucelle-Jardel) | 7th Place & N1 Promotion |
Conditions and Final Fleets: Decisive Factors in Saturday's Races
The closing stage at Hyères turns to six fleet finals across double-handed and single-handed dinghies and catamarans: Mixed 470, ILCA 6, ILCA 7, Nacra 17, 49er FX, and 49er. Two races are scheduled between the top 10 sailors in each discipline's general classification to finalize the podiums.
- Tactical Setup: If south-westerly winds stay below 10 knots, start-line positioning and precise light-air acceleration will take priority over heavy-weather boat handling.
- Key Matchup: The Nacra 17 category remains open after Thursday's gear failure altered the top standings. Surviving crews must weigh aggressive foiling lines against mechanical caution.
- Uncertainty Factor: Sudden shifts in coastal pressure could reward mid-fleet sailors who find offshore pressure early, creating tight points gaps across the final two races.
Looking ahead on the international calendar, regatta organizers have locked in dates for next year's competition, scheduling the 58th Semaine Olympique Française from April 17 to April 24, 2027.
Sources
These sources formed the evidence pack for this article. Links open the original publisher; inclusion does not imply endorsement.
- sof.ffvoile.fr original
- epeenormandie.fr original
- bolton.com original
