#OLYMPIC SAILING – Belfast Lough is sending a second boat to the Olympic regatta in July following James Espey's Olympic qualification result in Germany today.
After four days of racing at the Laser World Championships in Germany, Espey from Ballyholme Yacht Club achieved Olympic qualification when he made the Gold fleet in Day four of the event.
Light winds were again prevailing today on day four of the Laser Standard Worlds at the Baltic Sea. In abating winds, two races were sailed, and Tom Slingsby AUS extended his lead with another race win to 9 points.
Espey scored 7, (29), 3, 20, 18, 17 ,22,19 to make the gold fleet. He now lies in 30th position overall and is second from nations who have not already qualified. By virtue of the fact there are only 6 unqualified nations in Gold fleet and there are 12 places on offer at this event Espey can be satisfied with a job well done.
Espey is the fourth Irish sailing campaign to qualify for Ireland. The other three teams Annalise Murphy (Laser Radial), Peter O'Leary and David Burrows (Star) and Belfast club mates Ryan Seaton & Matt McGovern (49er) qualified at the World Championships in Perth, Australia in December 2011.
A further two campaigns, Gerbil Owens and Scot Flanigan (470) and Ross Hamilton in the Finn dinghy are also targeting Olympic qualification this month.