Three top ten results on day one of the 49erfx world championships in Buenos Aires has boosted Irish chancees of a place at the Rio Olympics next year. Andrea Brewster and Saskia Tidey are tenth overall in a fleet of over forty after four light air races yesterday. The Royal Irish pair seek one of three Rio qualification places available at this Argentinian Championships. Two of the countries yet to qualify for the women’s Olympic fleet, from Norway and Ireland, both sit in the top ten. See full results here
Yesterday afternoon posed a bit steadier direction in same ENE vein, but the pressure variance was between 4-14 knots. They might've had more breeze to start but as the races were sailed, the breeze pressure slowly dropped making the final race a pretty light one! Apart from the top ten finishers, some higher point finishes were common amongst mid fleet in this final race.
Currently standing in the top three slots are: 1st- Denmarks' Nielsen/Olsen, 2nd-France's Steyaert/Compan, And 3rd- Italy's Conti/Clapcich. Denmark's Nielsen and Olsen had a slam dunk of a day winning the first three races and throwing out only a 5th place finish. Countries yet to qualify for the women's fleet from Norway and Ireland sit both in the top ten.
The FX fleet will start tomorrow leaving the 49er fleet to hopefully see more breeze come in during their afternoon session. Wind forecast is looking similar to today's and possible chance of thunderstorms early AM.
Meanwhile, Belfast mens 49er pairing Ryan Seaton & Matt McGovern are in 17th overall, following a 17, 13 & third.