Rindom and Van Acker renew rivalry at International Sailing Federation World Cup in Hyères

Sailors are hoping to seal World Cup Final spots and earn a share of €72,000 in prize money in Hyères ©ISAF

Denmark’s Anne-Marie Rindom and Belguim’s Evi Van Acker renewed their rivalry in the laser radial class at the International Sailing Federation (ISAF) World Cup in Hyères, France, with sailors across the 12 events battling to earn their share of the €72,000 (£52,000/$78,000) prize money.

Rindom came out on top in the laser radial class at the last World Cup event in Miami, with Van Acker finishing a close second place.

Rindom and Van Acker both suffered mixed starts, finishing 24th and 17th in one of the two races yesterday, but the two woman remain locked together at the top of the standings in Hyères.

The Danish sailor was able to discard her poor result with a first and sixth place finish in today's racing to move to 10 points, having claimed a third in her other race on the first day of competition.

She is joined by Van Acker, who has a second and two fourth place finishes to her credit across the four races.

Australia’s Tom Burton was also able to overcome a blip in the men’s laser class to lead the standings on seven points, having occupied first, second and third positions in his four races, while world champion Nicholas Heiner of The Netherlands lies second.

The women’s 470 class is shaping up to be one of the closest fought competitions heading towards the medal race on Sunday (April 26), with three teams tied at the top of the leaderboard.

Britain’s Hannah Mills and Saskia Clark currently occupy first place having clinched first, sixth and seventh placed finishes from their races, with American duo Anne Haeger and Briana Provancha second, while New Zealand’s Olympic and world champions Jo Aleh and Polly Powrie complete the top three at the halfway mark.

Billy Besson and Marie Riou of France won two of the four Nacra 17 races on the second day to lead the class ©ISAF

British and American sailors also enjoyed a productive second day of competition in the men’s 470 class, as Luke Patience and Elliot Willis from Britain took victory in the first race, before the United States pairing of Stuart Mcnay and David Hughes enhanced their overall position with a first place finish in the second.

Both pairings, however, are looking up to Croatia’s Sime Fantela and Igor Marenic, who lead the overall standings by five points from Italy’s Gabrio Zandonã and Andrea Trani.

The second day in Hyères saw four races take place in the Nacra 17 class, while men’s and women’s sailors competing in RS:X took part in three races.

Home favourites Billy Besson and Marie Riou of France took advantage of the packed schedule by earning two victories in the Nacra 17 to lead the standings by 14 points from Lin Ea Cenholt Christiansen and Christian Peter Lübeck of Denmark.

Poland's Maja Dziarnowska won all three women’s RS:X races but only occupies third place overall behind The Netherlands' Lilian De Geus, whose consistent performances across the two days has seen her lead second place Isobel Hamilton of Britain by 13 points.

Poland’s Piotr Myszka leads the men’s race by a solitary point from Israel’s Nimrod Mashiah.

New Zealand's Peter Burling and Blair Tuke have a comfortable lead in the men's 49er competition ©ISAF

Danish pair Ida Marie Nielsen and Marie Olsen have a comfortable 17 point advantage at the top of the women’s 49er FX standings.

Peter Burling and Blair Tuke of New Zealand are also clear in the men’s 49er competition.

Britain's Giles Scott, winner of the Finn class in Miami, continued his excellent form in the ISAF World Cup events by leading at the halfway mark of competition from compatriot Ed Wright.

The hosts France enjoyed a successful day in the two Paralympic events with Damien Seguin moving into first place in the 2.4mR class, ahead of Norway’s Bjørnar Erikstad, while sonar trio Bruno Jourdern, Eric Flageul and Nicolas Vimont-Vicary a point off the lead, currently occupied by Australia’s Colin Harrison, Jonathan Harris and Russell Boaden.