Today at the Games: July 30

James Peters and Fynn Sterritt blasting in Marseille. © World Sailing

Weather gods deliver epic racing on day three

For two days we prayed to the weather gods – and on day three of the Paris 2024 sailing competition those prayers were answered as glamour sailing conditions filled the Bay of Marseille. Here’s the lowdown on day three.

49er
James Peters and Fynn Sterritt really stretched their legs on day three, relishing the stronger breeze.

A strong start saw them finish race seven in fifth, then eleventh in race eight. Feeling that their momentum was building they gave everything in the last race and were rewarded with their first bullet of Paris 2024.

They go into the penultimate day of fleet racing in fourth overall.

Asked whether he was hoping for more days of big breeze, Peters replied: “Strong stuff is good, light stuff is good. We’ve got to be ready for whatever Marseille chucks at us.”

49erFX
A more promising opening race of day three saw Freya Black and Saskia Tidey finish ninth, having been as far up the fleet as fourth at points. 

The shifty conditions were clear for anyone watching the live race tracker – at times the traces looked more like toddlers’ scribbles than straight lines. 

Black and Tidey followed it up with a 14th, then showed what they’re capable with as they came across the line third in race nine.

Sam Sills had a solid day to move up to ninth. © World Sailing

iQFOiL women
Another day, another three race wins in the bag for Emma Wilson. 

The windsurfing wonder dominated the female fleet as they embarked on a monster day on the water. 

She repeated yesterday’s slalom scores with a 1, 2 before the fleet came ashore to allow the race committee to set up for course racing in the building breeze. 

By mid afternoon the iQFOiL athletes were back on the water for three longer races, two of which Wilson duly won.

With two more days of action left before the all-important medal series, Wilson is 17 points clear at the top of the leaderboard.

iQFOiL men
It’s hard not to smile around Sam Sills, such is his energy, and after five solid races he was buzzing.

“It was just nuts, but it was so good,” a beaming Sills told reporters. “It was so good. I lost my voice because of the intensity of it all. It was tough but I loved it.”

And quite rightly so. Sills is up from 21st to ninth – and with the points close at the top of the leaderboard there are plenty more opportunities to climb further.

Full results can be found here.

What’s coming up

The question on everyone’s lips is ‘will there be wind on Wednesday’? The answer, thankfully, is yes. The forecast predicts 12 to 14 knots by mid afternoon, and roasting temperatures of around 35 degrees. Expect another full programme of iQFOiL, 49er and 49erFX racing. The full Paris 2024 sailing competition schedule is here.

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Head to the British Sailing Team’s Paris 2024 hub for all the info on how to follow Team GB’s sailors at Paris 2024 including the competition schedule, live tracking, how to watch and more. For real-time updates check out the British Sailing Team’s social media channels.