#aquecerio – Belfast 49er duo Ryan Seaton and Matt McGovern secured a place in today's Aquece Rio Medal race after scoring two seconds yesterday to haul them back up from 15th to tenth overall and claim the last medal race place. 'It's been a rough week for us, though we are learning more each day about sailing here in Rio' the pair said last night after counting their best results of the week.
Following a difficult week of light and shifting winds, the 49er result is the only medal race participation of the four competing Irish boats at Aquece Rio. Ireland is not the only country feeling the pain of Rio's fickle winds, some other bigger countries are also nursing a mixed bag of results. Full results here.
A bad week got worse for Annalise Murphy who suffered a penalty (UFD) in her final Laser Radial race yesterday.
Irish team manager James O'Callaghan said the main goal for the week was to 'learn as much as possible' and admitted on social media that it had been a very 'challenging' week adding 'I think it's fair to say that the results are not what we'd like them to be'.
The 49er and 49erFX Medal Race places were decided on the Escola Naval course as each fleet reached ten races apiece over the week.
Commenting on their week and qualification, Matt and Ryan said: "We have only had 3 days of racing due to the light winds so we missed one day. We got off to a good start, though the second day of racing we struggled to get our strategy right with the tricky race course, lots of changing wind and tide. Yesterday we got to 2nd places and an 11th which really got us back in the overalls. We have had a hard week, though we have learnt from our mistakes and we have shown yesterday that we can perform and beat all the best guys. This is a real boost for next year, that's when it really counts!"
As things stand, Peter Burling and Blair Tuke (NZL) and Giulia Conti and Francesca Clapcich (ITA) are well positioned to claim gold with a 15 and nine point lead respectively.
Burling and Tuke couldn't have asked for much more on the day, enjoying the breeze to post a 4-1-4-1 that hands them a cushion over Nico Delle Karth and Nikolaus Resch (AUT). The Kiwis have guaranteed themselves at least silver medal whilst the Austrians are guaranteed a podium finish.
The third placed Erik Heil and Thomas Ploessel (GER) have a bit of work to do in third place with teams in places 4-7 in with a shout of bronze.
In the 49erFX, Italy's Conti and Clapcich have guaranteed themselves a podium finish which, as a result, books their ticket to the Rio 2016 Olympic Games. It was a mixed day for the Italians as they took a 2-4 alongside a DNF. Across the week the Italians have been consistent and whilst they discard the 20th, they count a tenth which is their only other double digit score.
Conti and Clapcich are nine points clear of Martine Grael and Kahena Kunze (BRA) and Lisa Ericson and Hanna Klinga (SWE) who are tied on 44 points.
Laser and Laser Radial
Like the Men's and Women's Skiffs, the Laser and Laser Radial fleet racing drew to a close ahead of the Medal Race. Both fleets completed nine races across the week with two challenging races taking place on the Niteroi course.
Francesco Marrai (ITA) held on to his lead in the Laser even though he finished 32nd in the last fleet race of series. He discards the 32nd but counts the third he got in the first race of the day. The Italian is 13 points clear of his rivals and has all but guaranteed himself a medal.
Tonci Stipanovic (CRO), Tom Burton (AUS) and Jean Baptiste Bernaz (FRA) are separated by three points heading into the Medal Race which could prove clinical for Marrai as the three may fight it out for the remaining medals. Robert Scheidt (BRA) and Charlie Buckingham (USA) are still in the hunt as well, 11 points off Stipanovic and eight off Burton and Bernaz.
The Laser Radial has been an intriguing competition throughout the week and going into the Medal Race just three points split first to third.
Gintare Scheidt (LTU) leads on 45 points followed by Evi Van Acker (BEL) on 47 and Paige Railey (USA) on 48.
Van Acker moved herself firmly into contention for a medal as she sailed her way to a 2-3. Railey has been consistent across the week and a 7-8 kept her in the hunt. Scheidt was on the receiving end of a scoring penalty in the first race of the day and discards the score. She held on to the overall lead though with a sixth in the last race of series ensuring it the deciding of medals will all boil down to the final double points race.
Tonight's 49er medal race is scheduled to get underway at 18.30 Irish time
