Race four was, by all accounts, a howler, with winds of up to 30 knots wreaking havoc on the 101-boat fleet. With the discard coming into play after race five, this race offered the two trailing Irish crews a chance to reel in O'Leary/Milne before the drop. A fifth by O'Leary/Milne in race two was still the best Irish result so far, but apart from the black flags, the two more experienced crews had posted consistent results so far, with Treacy/Shanks showing a 17 and 7.
From the outset, the relative newcomers showed they weren't about to lie down. Race four kicked off in 18 knots, and O'Leary/Milne rounded the first mark in second, just behind multiple medal-winner Mateusz Kusznierewicz, with O'Connell/Cooke in fifth.
The Corkmen stayed in the top four for the following two rounds, and at the bottom mark were fourth, with another medallist, Robert Scheidt, rounding out the top five. Even mentor Iain Percy was left trailing, eventually winding up with a DSQ.
But O'Leary's luck ran out before the end, when his mast snapped in a squall that kicked in during the closing stages. O'Leary/Milne rounded the last windward mark in the top five, but as they headed downwind towards the finish a gust ended their race and added a 105-point DNF to their tally. Drama ensued all over the course with one boat sinking and Olympic veteran Mateusz Kuscnierewicz missing his toestrap as he tacked by the finishing boat and taking an impromptu bath.
Of the 101 boats that started, 27 never crossed the finish line.
Treacy/Shanks now lead the Irish charge from 26th place, and will be hoping to add a good countable result to their 7,BFD,17,15 scoreline. O'Connell/Cooke hang on in 33rd, one point and one place ahead of O'Leary/Milne.
For the Irish crews, it means that all share a similar, if heinously large 105-point discard when it kicks in after race five, all of which hangs a question mark over the goal of qualifying the country in the Star for what could be its last Olympics.
Stay tuned - live updates on the racing are here. Pics are here.
