Olympics-Sailing-French hope inside track on wind and tide will swell medal tally

By Alexander Smith

MARSEILLE, France (Reuters) - France's sailing team have done everything they can to maximise Olympic home advantage after years of analysing the complex currents and winds swirling around the bay off Marseille.

They have been crunching data on wind, tide and previous regatta results in their quest for the best strategies for the sailors, who as host nation are represented in all 10 events.

"Maybe some good advice to the other countries would be to follow the French," said their deputy chief Guillaume Chiellino, smiling, as he explained how after trying to host the Games for 20 years the reality was leaving a lasting legacy for France.

But Chiellino, at his sixth Games, is giving nothing away.

"We have done a big job to know, shall we say, the tricks of the field of play," he told Reuters in Marseille's new sailing centre, which he said may be the world's biggest.

"Normally people say in the Mediterranean Sea there is no current, but in Marseille, especially in the last year, there's more current," he said.

French women's skiff duo Sarah Steyaert and Charline Picon played the advantage to the full during the early stages of their series in light winds, eventually securing bronze.

"Our best result was three medals in Tokyo and in Rio ... so the goal here is to have more," Chiellino said.

"We do not want to say 'four, five, six or seven (medals)' because we want to have all 10 teams involved in beating this record," he said, adding that this sent an inclusive message to all the team's sailors, coaches and support staff.

"If we came back with two gold medals it would be brilliant because we would be contributing to the national total. From a team perspective if we come back with four, five medals for me it will be a great achievement for everyone," he added.

Unlike the British, the French government does not disclose a medal target, Chiellino said, adding that France's campaign had been well funded, even if they received less than Britain.

Chiellino estimated the home advantage was worth between 20% and 30%, including factors such as not having to cope with jet-lag, ease of access to accommodation and training.

French support, from the very top, is another plus.

During a recent visit, President Emmanuel Macron even promised to try kiteboarding, a discipline in which France is strong, if the team medals in the new event, Chiellino said.

(Reporting by Alexander Smith; Editing by Ken Ferris)