Anna Tunnicliffe Wins Laser Radial Gold at Hyères ISAF Sailing World Cup

US Sailing team AlphaGraphics member Anna Tunnicliffe (Plantation, Fla.) claimed another major international victory in the Laser Radial, taking gold at the Hyères regatta in France. The event, held as part of French Olympic Sailing Week and the ISAF Sailing World Cup circuit, saw the 2008 Olympic gold medalist demonstrate experience and resilience to capture her third ISAF Sailing World Cup win.

Tunnicliffe’s triumph came after a challenging start to the regatta. Over the course of the week she gradually moved up the standings, closing the gap on the early leaders through consistent, tactical sailing. Entering the final, decisive medal race she was sitting second overall and faced a straightforward but demanding objective: protect her position and finish ahead of fleet leader Veronika Fenclova of the Czech Republic.

In the medal race, Tunnicliffe again produced the calm, controlled performance that has defined her recent season. She crossed the line in third place in the medal race while Fenclova finished sixth, a result that rearranged the podium and handed the overall victory to Tunnicliffe. The win underscored her ability to perform under pressure and to deliver when the stakes were highest.

“It was a mentally draining week but I was able to stay focused 100 percent,” Tunnicliffe said after the medal ceremony. Reflecting on what gave her the edge in the finale, she added: “I wanted to win. I wanted to win this regatta even before getting to France. I felt like I was in good shape going on the water today and all I needed to do was sail my own race and keep one boat between me and Veronika (Fenclova).” Her words highlight the straightforward, determined approach that carried her through the week: focus on fundamentals, stay patient, and execute when it matters.

Tunnicliffe’s gold in Hyères adds to a distinguished list of achievements. As the 2008 Olympic gold medalist in the Laser Radial, she has continued to compete at the highest level, and this latest victory marks her third ISAF Sailing World Cup event win. The Hyères result reinforces her status among the top competitors in the Laser Radial fleet and adds valuable momentum as the World Cup season continues.

Beyond the result itself, the regatta offered a clear example of how steady progress through a multi-race event can overturn an early deficit. Early problems in a regatta do not necessarily preclude a podium finish; careful decision-making, tactical awareness and strong boat handling in a variety of conditions can allow a determined sailor to recover and prevail.

Following the celebrations in France, Tunnicliffe will return to Plantation, Florida, for a short period of rest and to focus on match racing practice. She plans to remain engaged with training while recovering from the rigors of international travel and competition. Her next scheduled stop on the ISAF Sailing World Cup circuit will be in Medemblik, Netherlands, where she will look to carry the momentum from Hyères into another strong performance.

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