Cypriot sailor Pavlos Kontides secured eighth place overall at the Grand Slam of Hyeres on Sunday, marking his first major competition appearance of 2026 in the ILCA7 category.

In the final day, Kontides delivered a strong performance in the opening race, finishing second, before placing seventh in the following race.

The results confirmed his position inside the top ten in a competitive international field.

The event carried particular significance for Kontides, who had been absent from the opening Grand Slam of the season due to illness.

His participation in Hyeres also followed a recent injury, with the regatta serving as a measure of his competitive readiness ahead of upcoming events.

Kontides’ performance indicated a return to form as he prepares for the European Championship scheduled for May.

His results across the regatta reflected consistency and competitiveness against leading sailors.

Australia’s Matt Wearn secured the gold medal, while Britain’s Michael Beckett and Elliot Hanson completed the podium with silver and bronze respectively.

Kontides, a two-time Olympic silver medallist and former world champion in 2017 and 2018, is currently ranked third in the global ILCA7 standings.