by Fabienne Morin
Racing in the Paralympic classes came to a close at ISAF Sailing World Cup Hyères as Heiko Kroger (GER) and France’s Bruno Jourdren, Eric Flageul and Nicolas Vimont-Vicary took the 2.4mR and Sonar honours.
Kroger impressed all week in Hyères winning five of ten races after a shaky start that saw him OCS in Race 2. Having overcome his early wobbles three race victories in a row saw him open an advantage and a final day second and bullet sealed the deal.
London 2012 Paralympic gold medallist Helena Lucas (GBR) was back in the boat for racing in Hyères and christened her comeback with a silver medal. Compatriot Megan Pascoe rounded off the 2.4mR podium
“At the beginning of the week I had some problems downwind but I was able to fix it,” said Kroger. “A lot of good sailors were here and a lot of medallists. I had a very good set up and that’s easy when you’re fast. It helps a lot.”
Damien Seguin had been a mainstay on the top of the podium in Hyeres from 2008 but missed out entirely on any honours for the first time in his home nation. He still took heart from some steady racing that included three race wins, “I’ve won races in all types of weather so it is reassuring and it proves I can still win races at least. I may have been taking too many risks. I was close to the podium but it’s still a shame.”
Three French smiles were prevalent in the Sonar as Jourdren, Flageul and Vimont-Vicary celebrated victory back on shore taking gold ahead of Jens Kroker, Robert Prem and Siegmund Mainka (GER).
Coming into the final day the French trio were tied on 13 points with Aleksander Wang-Hansen, Marie Solberg and Per-Eugen Kristiansen (NOR). “It was tight because this morning we were on equal points,” said Jourdren. “We did two rounds and the conditions could not have been more lenient because we never had more than 10 knots of wind. We expected more.
“In the first race we had a great start and we managed to break fast away from the rest of the fleet and preserve the advantage to the finish. Given our place in the first round we were further from the Norwegians so we are very happy.”
The Norwegians could not find their mid-week form that brought them into contention for gold as a third and a fifth meant they slipped to third.
RESULTS BEFORE JURY :
2.4 MR, provisional results after 10 races :
1 – Heiko Kroeger (GER): 10 pts
2 – Helena Lucas (GBR) : 30 pts
3 - Megan Pascoe (GBR) :31 pts
...
Sonar, provisional results after 10 races :
1- Bruno Jourdren, Nicolas Vimont Vicary et Eric Flageul (CN Carantec, PEC Voile Poitiers, YC Carnac) : 17 pts
2- Jens Kroker, Robert Prem et Siegmund Mainka (GER) :20 pts
3- Aleksander Wang-Haansen, Marie Solberg et Kristiansen Per Eugen (NOR) : 20 pts
ISAF Sailing World Cup Hyeres
