If an injured ankle was not enough of a set back for Irish Olympic 49erfx campaigners Andrea Brewster and Saskia Tidey, a late Algerian entry now means no reallocation of the African Rio place which the Dun Laoghaire pairing were in line for. The upshot of this international shake–up means the Irish debutantes must be ready to compete at a do–or–die regatta in Palma in March.
Brewster and Tidey only became aware of the African developments last Sunday.
The Royal Irish Yacht Club pair now need to be top non–qualified European team. Finland, Austria, Croatia, Estonia and Russia will be the main opposition for the single available place.
It's a tough scenario but given Brewster and Tidey finished top of these crews at the 2015 world championships in Argentina in November it means Ireland should be in with more than a fighting chance of securing its first Olympic Womens skiff berth.
In an update on Brewster's ankle injury, it is understood not doing this week's 2016 worlds was precautionary given how important the Palma is going to be. Full training resumes late next week.