Nacra 17 Trofeo Princesa Sofia 2024: Day 3
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Photos by Sailing Energy, more at Nacra 17 Sailing Fb page here
Nacra 17 racing Trofeo Princesa Sofia 2024 Day 3
Light winds provided tricky conditions at Palma, for the third day of racing in the Nacra 17 fleet. Degree of difficulty shows on the former leaders going down to 9th overall.
Stars of the day were Billy Besson & Noa Ancian scoring a bullet, a second a 27th (discard).
I consulted with Olivier Bovyn (he is part of the French Sailing Fed too) and he confirmed the team for coming Games are not defined. They will surely wait for Hyeres to select the French Nacra 17 representatives.
Happy for Billy, if there is a sailor who deserves a second chance at the Olympics is him, the 4 years previous the 2016 Games, Besson & Riou dominated at will, even more than Tita & Banti if I recall well.
Then reaching the regatta schedule at Rio Billy suffered a back injury which left their almost secure chances for the Gold out of hand.
Today he showed he still has the nerve and talent to pursue Gold, maybe he will refine his consistency with more wind. Along Noa they have scored four regattas under 12th in this championship so the speed seems to be there in full foiling mode too. But Tim Mourniac & Lou Berthomieu will put on a fight, the young Mourniac is about one of the fastest guys in the F18 & Nacra 17 fleets right now.
Tita & Banti lead, followed by Gimson & Burnet, and the continuous improvement of our Argies Mateo & Euge, sending a warning to the fleet on their actual intentions for Paris.
Top ten after 10 races, complete results here