France driver Quentin Delapierre previously highlighted starting tactics as a key focus area for the team which paid off in Halifax with excellent starts.
The French executed strong starts throughout the event, but kicked off the opening day with blistering race starts in the first two fleet races.
The second fleet race in particular saw the French surge forward from the back of the fleet, weave around New Zealand and Spain to secure a clear line over the start.
Despite streaking ahead of the fleet and placing first at Mark 1, the team dropped back through the fleet after picking up a penalty for infringing Germany.
Nevertheless, a consistent 2-7-6-2-3 fleet race record saw the French progress into the three-boat Final and race aggressively against ROCKWOOL DEN and Emirates GBR to place second overall.
Speaking after racing, Delapierre said securing strong starts was ‘the main objective’ in fleet racing. “The philosophy on the starts is quite strong inside the team,” he said.