The overnight gales may have abated but there was no shortage of thrills and spills on day four of the Melges 24 World Championship in Hyeres as the 119 crews completed the final two of six round robin races to decide the gold and silver fleets.
At 4pm the Race Committee was forced to call off racing for today here at the Worlds in Hyeres because of strong winds. It has been blowing a steady 35 knots here all afternoon with occasional big gusts on top of that.
Day one of the Melges 24 World Championship in Hyeres on the French Riviera brought stunning conditions for the 119 competitors from 14 nations as they completed the first two round robin races of the championship.
The fleet allocations have been announced for the round robins at the Melges 24 World Championships in Hyeres and right now the teams are sailing out to the race courses ready to begin racing at noon.
Day two at the Melges 24 Worlds in Hyeres brought a mix of conditions for the 119 crews with racing starting in 8-10 knots and finishing in 30 knots as the Mistral began to blow.
First thing this morning the wind in Hyeres dropped briefly allowing some of the boats to get out for a few hours practise, but this afternoon the Mistral is back and with winds gusting over 30 knots only the very brave have headed out of the marina to practise.
Overnight the Mistral came up in Hyeres and this morning crews at the 2006 Melges 24 World Championship awoke to glorious sunshine but gusty winds of up to 40 knots.
Sadly the second day of racing at the Hyeres Cup, the Melges 24 Pre-Worlds Regatta in Hyere, France, had to be cancelled due to strong Mistral winds, leaving the fleet with just yesterday's two races to count.
The 126 crews preparing for the Melges 24 Worlds in Hyeres are busy completing measurement and registration and getting some last minute practise in the warm up regatta.
