Défi Wind 2023

Day 2: Nicolas Goyard completes superb hat-trick while Justine Le Meteyer maintains control at the top of the rankings

Another windy day in Gruissan, south of France, the place where the Tramontana never stops blowing! The Défi WIND organisation took advantage of the 25 knots offshore breeze to run 2 additional mass start races with more than a thousand frantic sailors on the same course all together. Event leaders Justine Lemeteyer (FMX Racing / S2Maui / LokeFoils) and Nicolas Goyard (Phantom / Phantom Sails / Phantom Foils) showed no signs of weakness as the both “easily” defended their position at the top of the men’s and women’s rankings.

Right on time, the rabbit boat displayed no fear, even though tension on-board is escalating before the start: pro riders and amateurs start their race within a metre of the engines of the power boat, which opens the colossal 900 metre long start line! The Foilers - aka most of the pros - are at the pin end of the line, whereas the majority of the recreational sailors prefer to start close to the shore, on the flat water on the upwind side. While the pros are pushing to their limits to the brink, easy going sailors are packed in a gigantic traffic jam before the fleet stretches away. Quickly, the Goyard brothers and Johan Soe (FMX Racing / Point-7) are in the lead. Bruno Martini (JP / NeilPryde) and Pierre Mortefon (Fanatic / Duotone / Chopper Fins / Phantom Foils) both try their best to reduce the gap - depending on who’s the most agile to deal with seaweed on the course. Behind, we can see all kind of achievements on fins such as a family fight between the Dunkerbeck’s (Starboard / Severne Sails), father and son, Björn and Liam, tridem with Helen Noesmoen (IQ Foil World Champ) + 2 friends on board, as well as a fierce competition between lightweight wavesailor Thomas Traversa (Tabou / GA SAils) and heavy slalom sailors from all over the world, or Sunday sailors on vintage gear.

In the girls ranking, Justine Le Meteyer holds on to her 1st place while Sara Wennekes (FMX Racing / Severne Sails) stays in second. Delphine Cousin Questel (FMX Racing / S2Maui) exchanges place with Blanca Alabau (Starboard / Severne Sails) for 3rd. The 4th race, and the all important discard are on the radar for Saturday, which seems like it will be the last day of racing according to the forecast.

Men's Current Results 2023 Défi Wind

1st Nicolas Goyard (FRA | Phantom / Phantom Sails / Phantom Foils)
2nd Johan Soe (DEN | FMX Racing / Point-7)
3rd Thomas Goyard (FRA | Phantom / Phantom Sails / Phantom Foils)
4th Bruno Martini (ITA | JP / NeilPryde)
5th William Huppert (FRA | Phantom / Phantom Sails / Phantom Foils)
6th Pierre Mortefon (FRA | Fanatic / Duotone / Chopper Fins / Phantom Foils)
7th Antoine Albeau (FRA | JP / NeilPryde)
8th Amado Vrieswijk (NB | Future Fly Boards / Severne Sails)
9th Alexandre Cousin (FRA | Patrik / Patrik Sails / Chopper Fins / Patrik Foils)
10th Enrico Marotti (CRO | JP / NeilPryde)

Women's Current Results 2023 Défi Wind

1st Justine Lemeteyer (FRA |FMX Racing / S2Maui / LokeFoils) (60th)
2nd Sara Wennekes (NED | Future Fly Boards / Severne Sails)
3rd Blanca Alabau (ESP | Starboard / Severne Sails)
4th Delphine Cousin Questel (FRA | FMX Racing / S2Maui)
5th Marion Couturier (FRA | Starboard / Severne Sails)
6th Marion Mortefon (FRA | Fanatic / Duotone / Phantom Foils)
7th Jenna Gibson (GBR | Fanatic / Duotone)
8th Alice Read (GBR | Fanatic / Duotone)
9th Femke Van Der Veen (NED | Starboard / Severne Sails)