The Last Chance Regatta at the French Olympic Week in Hyères was full of surprises in the run-up to the Games. Switzerland won two additional quota places in iQFoil and Formula Kite. The decision on whether or not to send our athletes to Marseille now rests with the Swiss Sailing Team selection committee and Swiss Olympic. At the same time, three Swiss sailors are heading for New York on their IMOCA boats and promise us some great battles.
The Hyères SOF was the last major multi-class event before the Olympic Games. It was an opportunity for qualified nations to see where they stood in a fleet made up exclusively of countries that had won their Olympic ticket. For the nations without a ticket, the Last Chance Regatta put the last places up for grabs. Switzerland’s Elena Lengwiler excelled in this exercise. Having only taken up kitesurfing five years ago, she won 11 of the week’s 15 heats. An impressive result that confirms her meteoric rise: 10th nation at the 2023 European Championship and 4th overall this year at Mar Menor. On the iQFoil side, the Swiss also secured a place in the quota allocated to “developing nations”. These are a small number of places reallocated following the decision of certain federations not to send athletes. These places are allocated to nations that failed to qualify their athletes in a given class during the two previous Olympiads. Who will finally go to the Games, Elena Sandera and Manon Berger in iQFoil or Elena Lengwiler?
What are the criteria?
It should be remembered that a nation’s qualification does not qualify it for an Olympic ticket. It’s up to Swiss Olympic and SST to decide, based on a number of criteria. Does the athlete have the required level of performance to compete in the Games? Does he have the results to qualify for the SST framework? Does the athlete have the potential to progress, particularly in view of his or her age (born before 1997), to unlock the “new comer rule”? Finally, does the national team have a tactical interest in allocating an additional place in order to obtain more logistical resources, such as an additional boat?
All these parameters will then have to be assessed by the SST selection committee. Composed of such heavyweights as Éric Monnin, Pierre-Yves Jorand and Richard Stauffacher, the verdict promises to be fair and objective. While the selection of Elena Lengwiler seems highly likely at this stage, the sending of a windsurfer promises to fuel debate.
Due west
Away from all these Olympic considerations, Justine Mettraux, Alan Roura and Oliver Heer got off to an excellent start on The Transat CIC. Switzerland’s three representatives are at the heart of the pack. Justine Mettraux once again shone at the start, crossing the first course mark in third place. Alan Roura, for his part, is showing good speeds, and the downwind conditions forecast for the next 24 hours could enable Hublot to release the horses. To be continued.
