Four classes in action as Paris 2024 looms

Saskia Tidey and Freya Black. © Didier Hillaire

49er, 49erFX, Nacra 17 and 470 classes all racing this week

What, where and when?
Unusually, there are three big Olympic class regattas happening in France this week – the Nacra 17 World Championships and the 49er and 49erFX European Championships in La Grande Motte, and the 470 European Championships in Cannes. All competitions end on May 12.

Who?
With the Paris 2024 Olympics a little over two months away, all eyes are on the British Sailing Team’s Team GB athletes. In the 49er that’s James Peters and Fynn Sterritt, Freya Black and Saskia Tidey in the 49erFX, John Gimson and Anna Burnet in the Nacra 17 and Vita Heathcote and Chris Grube in the 470.

The lowdown
These are the penultimate Olympic class regattas prior to Paris 2024, so the heat is on. With the Games looming the ten Olympic classes have front-loaded the sailing season with major events to get as much training in as possible before the big showdown in Marseille this summer. These regattas are the last times our Team GB athletes in these four classes will get to race against their rivals before Paris 2024. Not only are there bragging rights on offer – who wouldn’t want to be world champion going into the Games? – but also they serve as a great performance benchmark for any final tweaks ahead of Marseille.

Gimson and Burnet training in La Grande Motte. © Didier Hillaire

Anything else?
Two-time world champions Gimson and Burnet had to settle for silver at the 2023 World Championships, beaten by reigning Olympic champions – and their training partenrs – Ruggero Tita and Caterina Banti. Will they have their revenge in La Grande Motte?

How do I follow the regatta?
The official websites featuring results and the full entry list are here – 49er and 49erFX, Nacra 17 and 470. The action in the 49er, 49erFX and Nacra 17 classes will be livestreamed on the final three days. If you want to track the progress of the Brits the best place to do so is the British Sailing Team social media channels. Each day we will keep you posted on results, and feature the best photos the event has to offer.