In the capricious waters of the Aegean Sea, the tricolored duos showed that they intend to make their mark on the current Olympic cycle.
A well-deserved podium for the Mourniac-Retornaz tandem
Formed less than a year ago, the duo of Tim Mourniac and Aloïse Retornaz made steady progress throughout the week, in light air conditions that were unusual for them. Despite a lack of references in light winds, the duo drew lessons from the first races to tackle the Medal Race with lucidity.
Eighth overall at the start of the week, they entered the Medal Race 18 points behind Argentina's Majdalani-Bosco. Thanks to a perfectly executed race and a counter-performance by their rivals, the French earned their first medal together.
" It's the icing on the cake", admits Aloïse. "We're still discovering each other and making progress. " Coach Gildas Philippe, who has been at their side since their debut in Brest, underlines their ability to correct mistakes as the days go by. Tim confirms: "We're validating a good start to the season. We've proved that we can perform in all conditions. "
In 49er FX, Lovadina-Berthomieu show great consistency
Another pleasant surprise came from the women's 49er FX duo. Mathilde Lovadina and Lou Berthomieu, who recently left the Nacra 17, have established themselves among the top European crews in their first campaign together. Qualifying for the Medal Race, they finished in a respectable 6th place, after briefly believing they were on the podium.
The regularity of their sailing and their progress in the final phases are encouraging signs. "Every day has taught us great lessons", they declared. Their collaboration with coach Benjamin Bonnaud and the technical support of Kevin Fischer seem to be bearing fruit.
Disappointments and prospects in other series
In the men's race, the 2023 European Champions, Lucas Rual and Émile Amoros, missed out on qualification for the Medal Race thanks to a stolen start in the final run. A frustrating twelfth place, but indicative of a good level of play over most of the week. Clément Péquin, teamed up with Kevin Fischer (replacing his brother), rounded off the championship in 16th place, a satisfactory result in an unusual format.
In the 49er FX, Lara Granier and Amélie Riou finished in 25th place, far from their standards. A result below expectations, according to performance manager Franck Citeau: " They need to bounce back to the level they showed at the start of the season."
With just one year to go before the big events, the European Championships in Thessalonica offer an important milestone for the French delegation. While some tandems have yet to find consistency, others such as Mourniac-Retornaz and Lovadina-Berthomieu are already establishing themselves as sure-fire contenders for the new Olympiad. Next stop: Kiel at the end of June, before the World Cup in Sardinia this autumn, where ambitions will be heightened.
