Kontides returns to Top-10: Eighth place at Hyeres Regatta

Cypriot sailor Pavlos Kontides took eighth place at the prestigious Grand Slam of Hyeres regatta, which concluded in France. The competition was his first major start of the 2026 season in the ILCA7 class.

On the final day of the regatta, Kontides demonstrated a strong performance: he finished second in the second final race and then followed up with a seventh-place finish. These results allowed him to secure a spot in the top ten amidst high international competition.

The tournament held special significance for the athlete, as he had missed the previous stage of the series due to illness and was also recovering from an injury. Participating in Hyeres served as an important form check ahead of upcoming competitions.

The performance of the Cypriot sailor signals a gradual return to peak form before the European Championship in May. Throughout the regatta, he showed stable results and remained competitive in the fight against the leaders.

The winner of the competition was Matt Wearn, with Michael Beckett taking silver and Elliot Hanson securing bronze.

Kontides, a two-time Olympic silver medalist and former world champion, currently holds third place in the ILCA7 world rankings and is considered a top contender for medals in the upcoming season.