Hyeres: Racing for the Hose and Winning SOF!
Port Tack Charter is delighted to present a guest blog from Olympic coach Rob Fox, who shares with us today some top tips from Hyeres. Thanks Rob!
One of my favourite memories of Hyeres was shortly after the two Tornado sailors I was coaching at the time – Oskar Johansson and Kevin Stittle – had just won a race that had pulled them into 1st place at SOF 2007. “Fantastic job guys!” I said, “Great start, you hooked into the first shift and kept………” – it was at this time that Oskar cut me short and said, “Hurry up with the tow line – we gotta beat these guys into the beach to be first at the hose”. Oskar and Kev went on to win the 2007 event the next day, but it was that moment of humour that best reminds me of Hyeres.
And I suspect Hyeres has been an event of many first successes for you out there as well.
Accessing Hyeres is easy. Coming only a few weeks after the Princess Sophia Regatta in Spain, it’s a short ferry ride and a reasonable day’s drive from one event to the next for most people. For those of you who missed Palma, Hyeres (otherwise known as the SOF – ‘Semaine Olympique Francaise’ or ‘French Olympic Week’) is central enough in Europe to complete a drive in 24hrs. The driving goes up and down through the Pyrenees, but it’s nothing a good tow vehicle can’t handle. And if you’re flying, there are fewer airports closer to a regatta venue than the Toulon/Hyeres (TLN) airport – you can walk from the airport to the regatta venue.
Once you arrive, there are several accommodation options which you need to pre-book because they fill up fast with the large number of sailors and support staff in town. The large Maeva hotel complex is a popular choice, as is the bungalow complex a short distance to the east of the harbour. There are a number of other smaller boutique hotels in small communities on either side of the harbour although these generally are a bit further and require a bicycle or car. The town of Hyeres itself is another option, though separated from the venue by a small 10 minute drive or bike. Renting a vacation home is also possible with a bit of homework and is appropriate for longer stays. For those not familiar with hotels on the continent, it should be noted that a room for 2-4 is actually a bachelor apartment suitable for 1-2 people…a good rule of thumb for anyone serious about getting rest for sailing performance is ‘divide by half’.
It should also be noted that despite the organizers providing free wireless service, internet connectivity is poor in Hyeres. Two local hotels provide a service for customers, as does the bungalow complex.
Do you like the panoramic mountain scenery, the potential for big wave big wind sailing, or big healthy fleet sizes? If you do, you’re going to love Hyeres – it’s a GREAT place to sail! A good amount of the time sunny conditions promote late sea breezes that trend right in the afternoon. The big breezes tend to come offshore. The Mistral whistles down from the mountains, out the harbour and into the bay, getting flatter and puffier as you sail upwind towards the shore. One year we got a couple of days of some fantastic big rolling waves and 25kts from the Northeast (to the right of the harbour). OK, last year was pretty light, but you can’t fault SOF for the volcanic eruption in Iceland, can you? Whatever conditions you do get, you can be assured you will get fair and organized racing from the SOF race team – some of the best people on the circuit.
Off the water, Hyeres has lots to offer as well. The area is well set up for road biking and there are plenty of beaches around. The local Go Kart track is top notch and popular with the sailors. France’s reputation of good food is also well deserved, both at the port, with its numerous cafes and restaurants around the boardwalk, and in town. And if you’re into wine, there are 16 vineyards in the region. The town itself dates back to the fourth century BCE and there is plenty to explore from the castle to the archaeological site. If you’re willing to stick around for an extra day, the annual Hyeres International Fashion and Photography Festival begins the day after the regatta ends. A day trip East up the coast will lead you to the famous Mediterranean towns of St. Tropez, Cannes, Nice and Monaco.
A short word of warning for visitors to Hyeres: There’s a good deal of theft that occurs on the coast between Barcelona and Hyeres and I’ve been told the criminals target the sailors each year. I myself was robbed – the thieves were kind enough to leave my passport, but inexplicably stole my toothbrush. Hyeres therefore is an event where you should leave all valuables at home and never leave anything in your car in sight of passers-by.
Hyeres is a favourite of many sailors on the circuit, and as mentioned previously is often the first event where people have had their first regatta successes. Whether you go for the racing, or to support a racer, Hyeres is a great call.
Good luck at the 2011 SOF!
Olympic Class Coach
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