#saildlr – Annalise Murphy will take Ireland's only Laser Radial spot for this summer's Test Event in Rio following a successful trial event at the Eurosaf event in Medemblik this week in which she won silver in the medal race today. Typically strong winds for the week blew in Annalise's favour and she was able to demonstrate her heavy air supremacy with four race wins from nine starts.
Annalise, however, was unable to catch Olympic Silver medal winner Marit Bouwmeester in today's medal race but finished ahead of Olympic Bronze medal rival Evi Van Acker in the 82–boat fleet.
The Dutch event was an Irish qualifier for the Olympic Test event, which will take place in Rio in August of this year. Having already qualified the nation for the Olympics, Annalise was competing in this event as part of her preparations for Rio in 2016.
The Dun Laoghaire sailor went into the final day's medal event two points behind local favourite Bouwmeester who won the Medal race and event. Murphy was under pressure the whole time from Van Acker and despite capsizing once, managed to keep the gap wide enough to ensure she picked up the silver medal with the Belgian taking bronze.
Annalise now looks forward to the ISAF World Cup series event in Weymouth in the UK from June 8-14 where competition is expected to be even tougher.
This year's team at Medemblik comprised of Providence Resuorces sponsored Olympic team sailors, Annalise Murphy and James Espey, plus Aisling Keller, Aoife Hopkins, Erica Ruigrok, Nicole Hemeryck, Finn Lynch, Daragh O'Sullivan and Fionn Lyden.
