Going into tomorrow's final day of competition Finn Lynch (23) is now 16th overall at the 2019 Laser Senior Europeans Championships & Open European Trophy in Porto, Portugal. Ten races have been sailed and two discards applied in the 105-boat fleet.

As much as Lynch's performance is an important top 20 result for the Tokyo campaigner, the National Yacht Club ace will have noticed the growing presence of a Howth Yacht Club rookie climbing the leaderboard behind him. In a stand out performance, Ewan McMahon (20), in his first senior European championships, is now only eight places behind the Rio veteran in 24th overall. If McMahon can maintain such form, it sets the stage for some keener competition between the two for the single Tokyo 2020 berth later this summer at the World Championships in Japan.

Meanwhile, In the women's Laser Radial division, after ten races sailed, Aisling Keller (Lough Derg Yacht Club) and Aoife Hopkins (also of Howth YC) are lying 42nd and 44th respectively out of a fleet of 91 competitors.

Racing continues until Saturday 25 May. Results are here.

The National Yacht Club's Finn Lynch from Dun Laoghaire continues his top form by being in the leading pack of the Laser European Championship on day one in Portugal yesterday.

The opening day's performance is added to a string of top results since January at World Sailing Cups that saw the Carlow man become the first Irish sailor ever to make a World Cup medal race in the men's Laser class.

The Irish Rio rep secured a second and third placing in the opening two races to lie fourth overall (but in a four-way tie on 5 points for first place) in a line-up of 162 competitors.

With 48 of the top 50 ranked sailors in the world racing the event is on a par as a World Championships because this week's “open” category allows non-European nations to race and it is, therefore, excellent practise for Lynch's critical Olympic qualification Championship in July. 

Other Irish sailors competing in the men's class are Liam Glynn and Ewan McMahon.

The 162 World Top Laser Standard sailors participating of this Championships were divided into 3 fleets, with 4 of them now initially leading the competition with 5 points. Those are Philipp Buhl GER (1-4), Joaquin Blanco ESP (1-4), Niels Broekhuizen NED (3-2) and Finn Lynch IRL (2-3).

Full Laser Standard results.

Howth Yacht Club's Jamie McMahon lies fifth in the men's Laser Radial Class.

Full Laser Radial Men results

The races that will crown next Saturday the European titles of the Standard Laser Class (male seniors), Laser Radial (female seniors) and Laser Radial Open (all ages and genres) began yesterday.

323 sailors representing 55 countries competed on the Atlantic cities of Matosinhos, Porto and Vila Nova de Gaia.

A weak wind prevailed on the first day of competition but allowed the two regattas scheduled for the race to be completed.

In the women's Laser Radial category, Malaysian sailor Nur Shazrin Mohamad Latif leads the standings. Aoife Hopkins and Aisling Keller from Ireland are competing. 

Full Laser Radial Women results

In the Laser Radial Open category, Martim Fernandes leads the classification after obtaining the 3rd and 2nd positions in both races.

For the second day of competition, Tuesday, two more races are scheduled, with races starting at 12 PM 

Dedicated Olympic solo sailor Finn Lynch (National Yacht Club) is “Sailor of the Month” for April on the strength of his closely-focused campaign towards qualifying for the 2020 Olympics. In three major international regattas during the first part of the year, he always concluded with an overall placing within the top ten, and in the most recent event at Genoa he was an overall leader at one stage, and a slight turn of fortune would have seen him in the medals. His solid Laser performance has moved him up to 15th in the world rankings.

In a thrilling medal race final at the Hempel World Sailing Cup Series at Genoa, Finn Lynch from Carlow placed third this afternoon (Sunday 21 April) to claim fifth overall in the men’s single-handed Laser event.
 
The result marks the third consecutive major regatta for Lynch this year in which he finished in the top 10 of his event in the run-up to Tokyo 2020.
 
The National Yacht Club sailor entered the medal race final in seventh place overall with the possibility of a silver or bronze medal.
 
However, it was the sixth-placed Andrew Lewis, from Trinidad, who edged ahead into second place to took bronze, while Hungary’s Jonatan Vadnai placed fifth to win gold, with silver going to Pavlos Kontides who placed eighth in the final. Vadnai’s brother Benjamin won the final race and finished ninth overall.
 
In fact, any of the 10 finalists were potential medallists and the neck-and-neck race was reflected at the finishing-line with first to last places just 50 metres apart. 

As light winds dominated the week at Genoa, so too was the final race sailed in near calm conditions.
 
“Finn started well, didn’t get into any trouble and sailed to his tactics – a straight race that he executed very well,” said Rory Fitzpatrick, Irish Sailing’s head coach.

“I’m delighted, seeing Finn come through from Toppers to Laser Radial then medalling at Youth Worlds and now contending for medals at senior level is outstanding.”
 
Ireland has still to qualify in the men’s single-handed Laser event for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, with the next opportunity at the class world championships at the Olympic venue in Enoshima, Japan this July.

The National Yacht Club's Finn Lynch races in the men’s single-handed Laser medal race final at the World Cup in Genoa at approximately midday and has a chance of a podium finish. He's the only Irish sailor to finish in a medal race position following a week of sailing by a 13-member Irish sailing team at the third round of the World Cup.

Lynch previously competed in medal races at the Princess Sofia Trophy in Palma just two weeks ago and the Miami Olympic classes regatta in February.

His Medal race is scheduled for 12.15 and viewable below: 

The National Yacht Club's Finn Lynch will look for the podium finish that he has so narrowly missed twice this season when he sails in the medal race final in the Men’s single-handed Laser event at the Hempel World Sailing Cup Series at Genoa to be sailed on Easter Sunday.

This is the third consecutive world-class event this season that the Carlow sailor has reached the top 10. Lynch is within eight points of achieving a podium place and all 10 finalists are close enough to each be a contender for a medal result.

Finn Lynch is the only Irish sailor of a nine-boat squad to make a World Cup medal race this week.

Heading into the Medal Race, Pavlos Kontides (CYP) holds an eight-point advantage over Jonatan Vadnai (HUN). Hermann Tomasgaard (NOR) is in contention for gold, 13 points off but he has four sailors within five points of him so he’ll be aiming to keep hold of his podium position rather than fighting for a gold. 

Howth Yacht Club Sailors Make Gold Fleet Cut

In addition to Lynch reaching the medal race final, the last day of Gold fleet racing saw Howth’s Ewan McMahon and Aoife Hopkins both deliver top three results in the Men’s Laser and Women’s Laser Radial events respectively. Hopkins steadily improved over the course of the week from the back of her class to 24th overall, marking her return to competition form after six months of winter training.

Howth's Ewan McMahon (left) made gold fleet in Genoa Photo: Sailing Energy

The week-long series at Genoa has been beset by light winds causing frequent delays and cancellations to the racing schedule.

The Men’s single-handed Laser medal race final will be sailed at Genoa at approximately midday on Sunday 21st April. Lynch previously competed in medal races at the Princess Sofia Trophy in Palma just two weeks ago and the Miami Olympic classes regatta in February.

Full results are here. Check out all our Irish Olympic sailing coverage in the build-up to Tokyo 2020 here

Medal race at 12.15. Live link here

There was Laser fleet drama for the National Yacht Club's top performing Finn Lynch yesterday when he was disqualified from the second race of the day following a black flag in his 111-boat fleet. So tight are the points at the top of the Laser fleet that even with his super consistency (four results from six in the top ten so far), the race six DSQ result dropped the 22-year-old from third to sixth overall and he is now nine points off the overall lead. 

He described his day on the water as 'mixed' (he had an eighth in his first race) but reaching the top ten of this ultra-competitive gold fleet cut is an achievement in itself.

Three races will be attempted today to determine the top-10 boats to sail in the medal race final on Sunday and Lynch will be determined to keep up his medal race participation after top ten finishes twice already this season in Miami and Palma.

The Carlow veteran of the Rio 2016 Olympics had started the day in the top three of his event and posted two top-10 results. However, he was disqualified for early starting in his final race eight, this meant he had to count his earlier worst score, an 18th place. That dropped Lynch to sixth place overall but just four points from the top three ahead of Sunday’s medal race final.

2017 and 2018 Laser World Champion Pavlos Kontides (CYP) is the model of consistency in the 111-boat Laser fleet. The Cypriot is the only competitor that does not hold a double-digit score and it has resulted in him grabbing the lead.

The Laser pack completed their opening series on Friday and will advance to gold and silver fleet racing on Saturday before Sunday’s Medal Race.

Kontides will carry a four-point advantage over Jonatan Vadnai (HUN) in the gold fleet. Hempel World Cup Series Miami gold medallist Hermann Tomasgaard (NOR) is third overall but there is minimal separation at the top of the pack and with three races to follow, anything can happen.

Gold Fleet for Aoife Hopkins

In the Women’s Laser Radial event, after a poor start, Howth Yacht Club’s Aoife Hopkins overtook Aisling Keller in the stakes to qualify for the Gold fleet. Tipperary sailor Keller will now sail in the Silver fleet final series after narrowly missing out by just two points.

Full results are here. Check out all our Irish Olympic sailing coverage in the build-up to Tokyo 2020 here

Before setting off for next week's World Cup Regatta in Genoa, Italy, Finn Lynch gives some thoughts on his great result last week at the Palma Regatta where the Viking Marine Ambassador placed fourth overall.

'I meant business in Palma. The only notable difference in this regatta to other regattas in the past was between my ears! Before the race, I created some strategies with some Irish Sailing coaches and my sports psych to help get me into the zone. It worked.

"I'm excited to have made a leap forwards & pumped to try back it up next week in Genoa"

In Laser sailing your focus needs to be constantly changing from speed, tactics, strategy, checking for the jury, risk management, thinking ahead, among other things and when you focus on one aspect at the wrong time you lose. An example might be if you are deciding whether you should tack or not and you hit a bad wave and lose a boat length that might cost you a lot later on in the race.

This makes Laser sailing so hard but so rewarding when things come together. 

I'm excited to have made a leap forwards and pumped to try back it up next week in the Genoa World Cup.'

Finn Lynch, Ireland's only medal race contender at the Princess Sofia Trophy this week, has finished fourth overall, narrowly missing out on a bronze medal position in an exciting Laser dinghy finale in a breezy Bay of Palma today.

Despite not making the podium at the final hurdle, the overall result is a major breakthrough for the 21-year-old National Yacht Club sailor who still needs to secure his Tokyo 2020 berth.

The Rio 2016 Olympian had been in second overall earlier in the series and qualified for the top ten medal race final on Saturday morning in seventh place beating, among others, former Olympic champion Robert Scheidt of Brazil.

High winds and big seas delayed the final race but it still went ahead in the challenging waves.

“If I was offered fourth at the start of this regatta I’d have taken it without thinking”

“I think if I was offered fourth at the start of this regatta I’d have taken it without thinking,” he said after the medal race ended. “I sailed really well and I’m super happy with fourth overall.”

There were 187 competitors in his event that included multiple Olympic and world champions and Lynch’s consistent form continues to mark his progress after also making the medal race final in Miami two months ago.

“When I came out of the harbour, I had a big smile on my face that I saw the big waves; I was really excited. I know a lot of people think I can’t perform in those conditions so I hope I’ve proved some people wrong and others right that no matter what the conditions I can still do well.”

The fleet also included Howth’s Ewan McMahon who ended the Gold fleet series on Friday in 29th place overall and is the top Under 21-year old as a result.

Full results are here Check out all our Irish Olympic sailing coverage in the build-up to Tokyo 2020 here

Passing one boat on the final leg of the medal showdown was enough to secure a first major regatta title for the USA’s Christopher Barnard. The sailor from Newport Beach, Calif. lead into the medal race which was won by GBR’s Eliot Hanson who finished runner up ahead of his two times World Champion compatriot Nick Thompson.

Barnard misses out on US selection to the test event to fifth placed Charlie Buckingham – their selection is aggregated over Miami and Palma - but was pleased to round out his regatta win.

“I'm extremely happy, relieved and emotionally exhausted.” Grinned Barnard, “This is by far the biggest regatta I've won. I've been happy with the way I've sailed all week and today I showed a really good fight. That's probably what I'm most proud of.”

“All week I sailed really consistently to put myself in a strong position going into another race and it definintely didn't start according to plan. Big breeze like today has never been my strongest condition but it's been a work in progress.”

“Charlie will go to the test event. For myself I'm disappointed with Miami, I didn't finish very well. I did everything I needed to do here to have a good result, but Charlie earned that spot, He sailed two really consistent events. So I will work hard to keep on improving and focus on our Olympic Trials.”

After a stand out performance this week, the National Yacht Club's Finn Lynch (21) can take a silver or bronze medal in tomorrow's medal race final of the Laser class at the Princess Sofia regatta in Mallorca.

Lynch is lying seventh from 187 slipping back from the second overall he held going into today's final two gold fleet races. 

"I'm three points off bronze after a mixed day on the water.  I sailed well in Race 1 and had a big catch up to finish 12. I'm disappointed with my Race two result of 26 in tricky 10-15 knot winds and big waves. Very excited for the medal race tomorrow and be in contention for a podium finish!", the young Irish contender said after racing.

Ewan McMahon is Top U21 Performer

In the same event, Howth Yacht Club’s Ewan McMahon ended his Gold fleet series today in 29^th place overall in only his first ever appearance at Gold fleet senior level and he comfortably becomes the top sailor aged under 21 in the Laser competition.

Ewan McMahon - top performance at the first attempt in Palma Photo: Sailing Energy

Lynch and McMahon have both sailed a gruelling 10-race schedule since Monday in a full range of conditions. A third Irish Laser sailor, Liam Glynn from Belfast Lough, won the final two races to win the Bronze fleet but was disappointed not to feature higher in the overall standings.

At 19, Lynch was the youngest competitor in his class when he made his Olympic debut at Rio 2016.

The annual Princess Sofia regatta for Olympic classes is celebrating its 50^thanniversary this year and has attracted a bigger than usual with more than 800 boats and 1,300-plus athletes taking part across all ten Olympic disciplines.

The Laser class medal will be sailed at 1100 (Irish time) on Saturday 6th April.

Full results are here Check out all our Irish Olympic sailing coverage in the build-up to Tokyo 2020 here