Balearic talent shines at the French Olympic Week sailing event

A total of 26 Spanish crews are competing in the French Olympic Week in the waters of Hyères, on the French Riviera.

Among them, the performance of Balearic sailors stands out, such as Marta Cardona from Club Nàutic S’Arenal (CNA), who, along with Olympian Jordi Xammar, are currently in second place in the overall standings of the Mixed 470 class after seven races. Also noteworthy is Nacho Baltasar from Club Nàutic Sa Ràpita (CNR), who is in fifth place overall in iQFoil.

According to Xisco Gil, Director of Olympic Preparation at the Royal Spanish Sailing Federation, “Hyères is a preparation regatta for the European and World Championships of each class, which begin in May.”

In Mixed 470, the new Spanish teams made up of Jordi Xammar and Marta Cardona (CNA), and Silvia Mas and Alex Marsans, are in Hyères to continue refining their teamwork. Just over 40 boats are competing in this category, including the entire podium from the Trofeo Princesa Sofía: British sailors Martin Wringley and Bettine Harris, Germans Simon Diesch and Anna Markfot, and Italians Elena Berta and Giulio Calabro are among the favorites.

Balearic sailors are also competing in the 49er class. Conrad Konitzer from Club Nàutic S’Arenal and his teammate Antonio Torrado from Alicante, after a strong showing in Mallorca where they finished tenth, are currently in 23rd position in the French Olympic Week.

“We’ve been training in Hyères with quite a bit of wind, beautiful conditions for the 49er,” Konitzer explained. “This regatta is important for correcting some of the mistakes we noticed during the Sofia and for working on certain technical and tactical objectives to improve ahead of the European Championship in Greece this June.”

The team of Patricia Suárez from Vigo and Melania Henke from Real Club Náutico de Palma is the Spanish representation in the 49er FX class at the French Olympic Week. In a fleet of 39 boats, they are currently in 11th position.

In men’s iQFoil, Mallorcan Nacho Baltasar has returned to French waters eager to repeat last year’s success, where he won the bronze medal. He is accompanied by Bernat Tomas from Club Nàutic S’Arenal. So far, Baltasar is fifth in the overall standings, while Tomas is in 38th place.

“We’re feeling motivated after Sofia and excited to compete again,” said Baltasar, “but I sprained my ankle last Monday, so my priority is to recover well. This is a training regatta in preparation for the World Championship. I want to perform well and repeat last year’s medal, but I need to focus on my physical condition to arrive at Worlds in top shape.”

Balearic sailors are also competing in the Nacra 17 class in Hyères. Joan Cardona from Real Club Náutico de Palma and Nicole Van der Velden are facing a strong fleet of 31 catamarans following Cardona’s health issues during the Trofeo Princesa Sofía from the second day of competition.