Australian Sailing Team ready to race French Olympic Week

The second Sailing Grand Slam of the 2026 season is set in Hyères, France, with the French Olympic Week regatta welcoming hundreds of sailors from over 50 nations across all 10 Olympic classes. Australia will have a strong presence with 43 entries preparing to compete.

This illustrious regatta, a staple in the international sailing calendar for over 50 years, is renowned for its diverse sailing conditions ranging from the powerful Mistral and strong easterly winds to light seabreezes. The forecast suggests a mixture of conditions this week, promising a challenging environment for all competitors.

Double Olympic Champion Matt Wearn, fresh from victory at the opening Sailing Grand Slam in Spain, is a key competitor to watch in the 136-boat ILCA7 fleet.

“It’s looking like we are expecting a classic Hyères with a bit of everything on the forecast,” Wearn commented. “It will be a great test for those that can master every condition. The fleet is about as competitive as you can get with all the main protagonists here, alongside plenty of younger sailors eager to prove themselves. It’s going to be a tough week of racing.”

This regatta marks a significant milestone in the lead-up to the LA 2028 Olympics, building upon the momentum from the season opener in Palma and creating a new benchmark across the fleet.

Iain Brambell, High Performance Director of Australian Sailing, highlighted the importance of this opportunity to gauge the team’s progress within a high-calibre international context. “We’ve seen strong early indicators from the team this season, especially in terms of depth and consistency. This week allows us to assess that across a full range of conditions. It’s about continuing to build and learn from Palma, aiming for repeatable podium finishes while refining our execution under pressure as we progress through the Olympic cycle.”

With world-class competition and a challenging racecourse, French Olympic Week represents a crucial test for the Australian Sailing Team on their journey towards LA 2028.

Racing commences on 20 April and runs through the weekend. The board classes (iQFOiL and Formula Kite) will compete in their Finals Series on 24 April, with the remaining boat classes deciding their medals on 25 April.

Australian sailors competing at French Olympic Week include:

ILCA 6 (83 entries)

Elyse Ainsworth (AST)
Mara Stransky (AST)
Zoe Thomson (AST)
Casey Imeneo (AS Squad)
Evie Saunders (AS Squad)
Ellen Sampson (ASF)
Lili McAullay (ASF)
Sylvie Stannage (AUS)
Frances Beebe (AUS)

ILCA 7 (136 entries)

Matt Wearn (AST)
Ethan McAullay (AST)
Zac Littlewood (AST)
Michael Compton (AS Squad)
Lawson McAullay (AS Squad)
Isaac Schotte (AS Squad)
Alexander Bijkerk (SSPP)
Hamish Gilsenan (SSSP)
Julian Taylor (SSSP)
Luke Elliot (AUS)
Patrick Scally (AUS)

iQFOiL – Men (66 entries)

Grae Morris (AST)
Rory Meehan (AS Squad)
Phillip Crispey (ASF)
Jarrod Jones (ASF)
Matthew Quinlan (SSPP)

iQFOiL – Women (41 entries)

Anna Crispey (ASF)
Sammie Costin (AUS)

Formula Kite – Men (40 entries)

Oscar Timm (SSPP)

Formula Kite – Women (23 entries)

Brieana Whitehead (AST)

Nacra 17 (30 entries)

Brin Liddell / Rhiannan Brown (AST)
Ruben Booth / Rita Booth (AS Squad)
Archie Gargett / Sarah Hoffman (AS Squad)
Jake Liddell / Niamh Meehan (AS Squad)

49er (48 entries)

Jack Ferguson / Jack Hilderbrand (AS Squad)
Otto Henry / Shaun Connor (AS Squad)
Harry Price / Max Paul (AS Squad)
Kurt Hansen / Charlie Zeeman (ASF)
Daniel Links / Keizo Tomishima (ASF)