#olympicsailing scoring – There's no surprise that there's a lot of confusion out there about how Olympic sailing scoring works. Miriam Lord in the Irish Times this morning admits to knowing very little about the whole 'sailing lark'. Radio presenters on Newstalk are also scratching their heads. Plenty of sailors get confused too, sailing can be complex, scoring more so but here's an explanation of how the results sheet will work for Annalise Murphy and others on the Olympic sailing team.

After each race, participants are given a number of points depending on their finishing position (not time). The winner gets 1 point, the second place gets 2 points, and so on.

In Annalise's Laser Radial class there are 10 races plus a final 'medal' race.

Even though Annalise has won four races she still has more to come. As of this morning Annalise has six races left to sail. It is the reason she has been cautious in media reports about making any predictions. 'I'm just taking it one race at a time', she said yesterday. Her score sheet is here.

The reason there is 10 races spread out over six days is that it gives the biggest chance of providing the widest range of wind conditions for a true champion to emerge.

Of the 10 series races sailed by this Saturday the 41 sailors in the fleet will discard their worst result. 

Then the top 10 sailors in the fleet go into a medal race (next Monday) which is for double points and this race cannot be discarded. The rest of the fleet can go home, their regatta is over.

The overall winner is the sailor with the fewest aggregate points across the fleet races and the medal race final.

The results system means that the result in the final medal race doesn’t automatically dictate where the medals will go – if the leader has built up a healthy enough lead on points (four wins for Annalise is obviously great), a sailor could still take the gold if they come second or third in the final.

Can Annalise 'Medal' Before Monday's Medal Race? Even if Annalise were to continue in current form and win all ten fleet races she can't medal before the final but if for example she gets a 19 point lead in the fleet racing all she has to do is finish the medal race even in tenth place to become Olympic champion. 

Of course there are no end of other possibilities that can arise between now and Monday including the race schedule changing because of problems with wind strength for example. This could cut the number of races sailed. There are other scenarios where a sailor can receive a non discardable penalty for rule infringements. The full racing rules of sailing are here.

 #annalisemurphy – You could have heard a pin drop at the National Yacht Club in Dun Laoghaire yesterday afternoon with over 70 junior sailors aged 7 to 14 dressed in their wetsuits munching crisps and staring at a big screen in the Dun Laoghaire club house. They were glued to the Olympic sailing from Weymouth but more precisely watching their friend and coach Annalise battling big seas and winds with such skill that she has sailed into the Irish sailing history books.

Then picture the scene when their 22-year old sailing instructor crossed the line to win the fourth race. 'She's Won, She's won! The kids screamed as they poured out of the club and on to the slipway to celebrate. 'Hooray for Annalise!'

The ties between the National Yacht Club children and their sailing star are very strong. Annalise regularly trains youngsters in taking their first tack in the harbour, taking time to make them feel confident. She' s also know for her helpful advice in mentoring teens in racing techniques especially in her chosen Laser dinghy.

But for now Annalise Murphy's mind is on other matters. She is the talk of Weymouth this morning having won all four races in her Laser Radial class so far. She joins Katie Taylor as Ireland's best hope for Gold next week.

It's windy in Dun Laoghaire this morning which means the kids might not get to hone their skills afloat today but there is plenty of action on the telly! Cover your ears if you are anywhere near the NYC today. Annalise is back in action at 12 noon today.

Annalise squeezes her 6' frame into a child's dinghy to teach a pair of six year olds in Dun Laoghaire. Photos: David O'Brien

#annalise – Four race wins for Annalise Murphy puts Ireland as the clear front runner for Olympic Gold next Monday in the Laser Radial. The strong Weymouth winds favoured by the untouchable Dun Laoghaire sailor are forecast to last for the remainder of the competition including the all important double points medal race.

Regardless of the Irish domination however the title is by no means a foregone conclusion at this early stage, Annalise is only a third of the way through the 11 race event.

Nevertheless in the modern era, winning four consecutive races at an Olympic regatta puts Annalise into a very special club. It's a point borne out by the media interest in the 22–year–old as she came ashore this afternoon.

"It can't get much better than winning the first four races but there's still six fleet races left so it's going to be really tough. All of the girls are really good and I think I've had a bit of luck and things have gone my way" Annalise told media.

Only a few sailors have ever won four olympic races in a row and they include multiple gold medallists Britain's Rodney Pattison in 1968 (scroll down for video below) and Denmark's Paul Elvstrom in Melbourne in 1956.

After 10 races, a sailor’s worst result is discounted and the 10 best sailors out of the 41 entrants have their points doubled in the medal race.

At this rate though the UCD science student — who has taken a break from her degree — could conceivably have a medal of some colour nicely in her sights in advance of then.

Annalise crosses the finish line of race four, 70 metres ahead

The National Yacht Club sailor reached every mark in first place today leading by as much as 70 metres at times. Her upwind and downwind boat speed totally dominated her 41-boat fleet, a feat never achieved in this fleet before. She has a best-possible scorecard of four points from four races sailed.

Belgian Evi Van Acker of Belgium, trails by some 12 points but remians a potent threat as does world champion Marit Bouwmeester of Holland in third.

Racing started in the Laser Radial class at 12 noon and Murphy again made a clean start carefully steering her way up the first leg grinding out a three boat length lead in less than a few minutes, going on to round all six marks of races three and four in the top position with a certain amount of inevitability.

Van Acker and Bouwmeester of the Netherlands are in the other medal positions, with Team GB's Alyson Young in fourth.

Murphy has two more races tomorrow and another couple on Friday and on Saturday.

The Murphy family take position on the hill at Weymouth. Come on Annalise!

In other Irish Olympic sailing team news Race 3 for the Irish 49er duo Ryan Seaton and Matt McGovern didn't get off to an ideal start this afternoon. The pair were 18th off the line and up until they rounded the second mark but they battled hard and moved up the fleet to finish in 15th.

They didn't dwell on the result though and came out guns blazing in Race 4. They were at the top of the fleet for the entire race, alternating between 2nd and 3rd position. Rounding the final mark and on the downwind run to the finish, Nathan Outteridge & Iain Jensenof (AUS) had a huge lead on Erik Storck & Trevor Moore (USA) and the Irish boys but the Aussies capsized at the very last minute. Seaton & McGovern capitalised on the error and moved up one place to finished 2nd. They maintain their position of 6th overall with a further 11 races to sail followed by the medal race.

Today was the third day of racing for the Irish Star sailors, Peter O'Leary and David Burrows. They began Race 5 toward the back of the fleet but moved up five places to 9th by the final mark. Unfortunately on the final run they lost two places to finish 11th.

There was an individual recall for some of the competitors who were over the start line in Race 6 and the Irish pair were among them. The penalty cost them and they finished the race in 11th. They finish the day in ninth overall with Iain Percy & Andrew Simpson (GBR) in 1st and Robert Scheidt & Bruno Prada (BRA) in 2nd. A further four races must still be sailed so it's still all to play for before the medal race on Sunday, 5th August.

James Espey also had his second day of racing today in the Laser class. He had a solid start in his first race but dropped eight places to finish 39th. He had his best start of the Games so far in Race 4 where he spent the first half of the race in 12th but slipped to finish 36th. Espey moves up two places to 40th overall with a further six races to sail before the top ten in the fleet sail the medal race.

Racing will continue tomorrow for the Laser Radial, 49er and Laser. The Star class are on a rest day. Sailing action starts at 12 noon in Weymouth.

#annalise – A forecast of similar winds off Weymouth for the rest of Olympic week brought an even wider smile to first timer Annalise Murphy's face this afternoon as she sailed home the winner of both races in the Olympic Laser Radial. Today's result is a stand out performance never before achieved by an Irish sailor at an Olympic Games.

Weymouth's famous bay offered up ideal conditions for the 6'1" Irish representative to tower over her opposition producing a 100 metre lead in the first race.

"I'd a good start and tacked across the fleet and pulled away. It was great! I couldn't do much wrong today. I've brilliant upwind speed. It's all coming together" Annalise told reporters of her first race performance.

And the news of strong westerlies for the rest of the week gives the Irish heavy air expert a unique chance to be on the podium, a feat she has achieved twice before here in the practice events in the run up to this her debut Games.

Rarely has there been a display of such strength in any Olympic class as today and Irish support in Weymouth has swelled on the back of it and also those of the 49er this morning plus yesterday's opening Star results.

Tonight's clean score-sheet showed the 41 – boat radial fleet that the Dun Laoghaire sailor continues to be a force to be reckoned with.

But the results are no flash in the pan, Annalise has been making similar statements all season.

Annalise bucked a trend in transitioning so successfully from youth to senior. At her first Worlds in 2007 she was silver fleet, two years later she finished eighth at the world championships and she went on to better that again in 2011 finishing sixth at the 2011 Perth Worlds. Her transition has not been without it ups and downs but that is not unexpected with an emerging talent.

In 2011 she set an almost impossibly high bar to replicate only finishing outside the top10 once at a World Cup regatta. After a long 2011 season, Annalise has struggled to regain some of her form. However, the signs are there that she can deliver. She continues to rack up a lot of race wins but will need to work on consistency if she is to be in the mix at the end of this week.

The silver and bronze medallists from Beijing have both hit form at the right time the former being crowned 2012 World Champion. Marit Boumester has also had a dip in form since being on the podium at every event in 2011 but she cannot be ruled out.

Annalise will take huge confidence from today's results and also having medalled at this Weymouth venue last year. And with this weather forecast don't rule out a young girl from Dun Laoghaire who is used to bucking trends.

In other news from the Irish Olympic camp three of the four campaigns are lying in top 10 positions. Today was also the first day of racing for the, mens Laser and 49er campaigns, while the Star went in to today's racing in second place after a strong performance yesterday.

Peter O'Leary and David Burrows rounded the first mark of Race 3 of the Star in 10th position but dropped down to 13th for the second and third marks, finishing in 14th.

They maintained their position in the middle of the fleet in Race 4 until they rounded the last mark and climbed from 9th to finish in 5th position leaving them 5th overall.

The Irish 49er duo Ryan Seaton and Matt McGovern got off to a solid start in their debut at the Games this afternoon. In Race 1 of their three lap windward-leeward course, they fought hard to climb up the fleet from 7th place to finish 4th overall. They started Race 2 in 9th, dropping back to 12th mid-way through only to return near the top of the fleet and finish in 8th. They currently lie 6th overall but still have a further 13 more races to sail followed by the medal race.

James Espey also began racing today in the 49 boat Laser fleet. He had a 38th and a 44th which sees him in 42nd overall. Espey has a further 8 races to sail before the top ten in the fleet sail the medal race.

Racing will continue tomorrow for the Star, Laser Radial, 49er and Laser. The 470 starts on Thursday. Sailing action starts at 12 noon in Weymouth.

#olympicsailing – Fancy betting on sailing at the 2012 Olympics? There's some fantastic odds on sailors to win medals as well as a few short ones if you factor in the vagaries of weather and a week long series. We've taken a quick eyeball and here's a selection from Paddy Power Bookmakers.

Star class supremo Robert Scheidt at 6/5 is not a great bet but there are fantastic odds on the defending champion Iain Percy at 5/1. Ireland 's Peter O'Leary at 7/2 is also definitely worth a punt.

In the Laser Radial class Annalise Murphy at 10/1 who goes into action today is worth a ton of money as the forecast is definitely on her side. We all know she is a formdidable force in big winds so the forecast is good for an each way bet. And Gintare Scheidt is excellent odds at 5/1 especially as she is the reigning world champion.

In the 470 the Australian champions are poor odds at 1/12 given there are so many opportunities for screw ups in a week long event. Ireland's Ger Owens is a very long shot at 25/1.

In the 49er the Irish are 25/1 and possibly a good each way bet as they have a superb coach in Ian Barker, 2000 silver medalist and have been on upward trajectory for the last year.

The Australians at 11/10 look like a sure fire thing so not worth a bet, but the British at 8/1 and the Spanish at 13/1 are both amazing odds.

In the Finn Ben Ainslie 8/15 would be your banker with the Danish at 8/5 very short odds but the Dutch 25/1 and the Croatian 11/2 are both good each way bets.

Paddy Power sailing here

#genuine prospects – Ireland has won Gold in the Star class and Bronze in the Radial class at the most important pre-Olympic event of the season.

While the boycott reduced Olympics of 1980 may have given hope to the Irish Olympic Sailing team, it is perhaps fair to say that the performances of the class of 2012 are closer to the positive end of the hope-expectation scale. With superb timing, in the last major confrontation of Olympic contenders, the Irish medal race sailors put in tremendous final race performances to take away a first, a third and a seventh from the Skandia Sail for Gold Regatta last week.

With only a few weeks to go to the ultimate competition in this quadrennial, Ireland is set to emulate and perhaps exceed the 1980 result. If we do, it could lessen the burden carried for so long by Wilkins and Wilkinson in the same way that Michael Carruth's gold in Barcelona eventually relieved the nation's unreasonable reliance on Ronnie Delaney.

Peter O'Leary and David Burrows on the way to overall victory in the Star class. Photo: Brian Carlin

In the Star Class, Peter O'Leary and David Burrows have been mixing it with the world's best for a couple of years now and in getting the better of current World champions, Brazilians Robert Scheidt and Bruno Prada and the British Olympic Champions, Iain Percy and Andrew Simpson, the Cork/Dublin combo have laid down a very clear message that the destiny of this year's top reward is no longer the two horse race that many punters have been predicting. With consistency across a variety of conditions, the Irish Star team are no longer outsiders for a medal, but have clearly signalled their intention to, once again, ascend the Weymouth podium come August 5th. However, this Star Class is deep with talent and anyone of ten teams could realistically medal. Canada, Switzerland, Poland, France, Denmark and Greece all harbour aspirations to medal in the Star and our heroes will need to double check equipment on a daily basis to ensure they are not denied by equipment failure, particularly with the additional restrictions on coach support during the Games itself.

Annalise is recognised as the world leader in heavy airs. Photo: Richard Langdon

Annalise Murphy's welcome return to form, following a Radial worlds dogged by inconsistency and a poor showing (by her standards) at a reduced quality Delta Lloyd regatta, augurs well should Weymouth enjoy decent breeze. Recognised internationally as the class's best heavy weather sailor by some distance, it was encouraging to see that she wasn't completely off the pace in the lighter winds on the regatta's first day. Annalise has set out her schedule for the remaining period prior to the Games – more work on light air sailing work should be a part of the work plan.

Ryan Searton and Matt McGovern produced three race wins at Sail for Gold last week. Photo: Richard Langdon

Team officials must be delighted, not only with the Star and Radial performances, but also by the 49er team of Ryan Seaton and Matt McGovern. 10th in the 2011 World Championship in Perth must have seemed to be a distant memory with a poor start to 2012.

Less than stellar results in the early season World Cup events culminated in failing to make gold fleet at the 2012 Worlds in Croatia in May last month. However, the Northern Ireland duo bounced back in fine style to record their best result to date. Barely hanging on to the medal race spot in the final gold fleet race, the boys then finished 5th in the medal race, leap frogging three competitors to finish in 7th overall. With three British sailors ahead of them, this conceivably puts them top five in the Olympic fleet. However, form suggests the gold medal battle will be between Spaniards, Iker Martinez and Xabier Fernandez, currently away on Volvo duty, and Australian World Champions Nathan Outteridge and Iain Jensen, with the battle for the minor medal between any number of countries - France, Britain, Finland and Denmark are among those – making the Irish team outsiders. But outsiders with a great boost to their confidence, and this young team, should they continue, will have made a huge claim for enhanced support for the next quadrennial.

So, Irish sailing embarks on the voyage to London 2012 with a reasonable expectation for a positive outcome. But for it to be similar to the Sail for Gold result will not only demand that all our sailors are on their best form, but also that there is consistently strong breeze for the duration. A tall order perhaps? Gaoth láidir, le do thoil!

#sailforgold–Annalise Murphy believes she is on track for a top ten finish in her debut Olympics following a fine week at the Skandia Sail for Gold Regatta writes our special correspondent Paul Smith.

The Irish Laser Radial sailor picked up a win and a third place from her two races on day four in Weymouth, as the series entered the gold fleet stage.

Murphy, of Dublin, is now ranked fifth overall, with China's Lijia Xu in first and Britain's Alison Young second. Sari Mutala, of Finland, is third.

The National Yacht Club's Murphy is pleased with how her week has gone so far as she steps up her preparations for London 2012, and she is keen to illustrate her credentials.

"I've had a pretty consistent week, I had one bad race on Wednesday which is probably going to affect me overall in the end but I'm pretty happy," said the 22-year-old, who picked up a further first place on day three.

"I have had much more consistent results than usual so it is good.

"I came here and wanted to be in the top ten to get some medal experience, because every medal race here is important as it is like a step towards the Olympics.

"This will be my first Olympics so I am just going to try and get a good experience. I want to finish in the top ten and hopefully that will give me a good stepping stone towards 2016 but I don't know, anything can happen."

Providence Resources is the sponsor of the Irish Olympic Sailors

Investment specialist Skandia is the principal sponsor of the British sailing team 

#LASER RADIAL – After a disatrous opener yesterday London Olympic prospect Annalise Murphy bounced back to the front of the 133-boat Women's Laser Radial fleet in Boltenhagen, Germany today finishing  first and second in her two races moving her up 70 places from 103rd to lie  27th overall.

With 20 knots of wind from 270 degrees on the race course it was the perfect opportnuity for the 6'foot 1" Dun Laoghaire sailor to show her world class heavy air form.

Overall Britian's Alison Young leads the fleet. Results after four races are downloadable below in pdf format.

Racing continues until Saturday with the top 10 sailors progressing to the medal race on Sunday.

Tactically challenging conditions with mildly oscillating winds from 15 to 20 knots today's races lead to interesting changes in the results at the top of the leader board. In uncharacteristically rough waters for Boltenhagen there were several capsizes during the races and in the strong winds some starters were a little too eager, receiving a total of seven black flags.

Young (GBR) was able to discard her 39 points from the very fist race of the series and moves up from 31st to first place in the overall results with a second place and a win. Only four points behind is Lija Xu from China who was fifth in the first race and won the yellow fleet's second race. In third place with eight points like Lija Xu is Cecilia Carranza Saroli (ARG) who came second in the first race but had to discard her 14th place from the second race.

Defending World Champion Marit Bouwmeester (NED) is delivering a steady performance in fifth place, only one point behind the World Champion from 2009 and 2010, Sari Multala from Finland who achieved the same scores as yesterday with a first and eighth place. Even though American Olympic hope Paige Railey placed seventh and fifth today her results from the first day prevent her from moving up significantly in the overall results. She improves from 30th place to 23rd.

France's Marie Bolou is still leading in the U21 results, followed by Erika Reineke (USA) and Michelle Broekhuizen (NED).

Top ranked Irish Olympic sailor Annalise Murphy is back in European action on Saturday as part of a four boat Irish team competing at the Trofeo SAR Princesa Sofia Mapfre, to be sailed in the Bay of Palma de Mallorca, Spain.

It's another important marker on the road to the London Olympics in 100 days time and Annalise will be anxious to put in a strong performance against her arch rivals, current world champion Marit Boumeester of Holland and Evi Van Acker of Belgium. 

900 sailors from 53 nations will take part at the 43 Trofeo SAR Princesa Sofia Mapfre, to be sailed in the Bay of Palma de Mallorca, Spain, from 31 March to 7 April.

Competing alongside Annalise is also London qualified Ryan Seaton and Matt McGovern in the 49er dinghy as well as 470 pairing Ger Owens and Scott Flannigan and Laser singlehander James Espey, both still seeking a last chance of Olympic qualification.

The opening of a free access village for all sailing enthusiasts to follow the racing and as meeting point for all sailors and participants, located at leisure centre Pabisa Beach Club in Playa de Palma and the extension of the racing programme with an official training day are the main novelties presented today at the main sponsor's headquarters in Palma.

The presentation act has been presided over by Javier Morente, Sports General Manager of the Govern de les Illes Balears; Fernando Gilet, Sports and Cultures councillor of Palma City Council; Rafael Lleonard, Vice president of the Federación Balear de Vela; Gabriel Dolç, president of Club Nàutic S'Arenal; Javier Sanz, president of Real Club Náutico de Palma; Juan Antonio Cardona, president of Club Marítimo San Antonio de la Playa; José Antonio Continente; regional manager of Mapfre in Baleares, and Ferran Muniesa, general manager of the Trofeo Princesa Sofia Mapfre.

A tasting of the new Sofia Mapfre

"We have already introduced some novelties in this edition that will mark the future of the regatta", explained during the presentation act the spokesperson of the Sofia Mapfre. The new regatta's social centre and the inclusion of the official training day are the first changes put to the test this year and that will serve as a tasting of the new Trofeo Princesa Sofia Mapfre we will be seeing from 2013, with its inclusion in the renewed ISAF Sailing World Cup.

This Olympic and Paralympic sailing circuit was formed up to now by five European events, one in the US and another one in Australia. With the objective of having a more global concept, the International Sailing Federation has extended it to Asia and Africa and has cut down to two the European events included. After a fierce battle against strong European candidates, the Sofia Mapfre and the Semaine Olimpique Française were selected as the two European venues of the new 2013 and 2014 ISAF Sailing World Cup.

In words of the Sofia Mapfre general manager, this selection confirms the regatta is part of the world elite: "We continue to be a point of reference. Our regatta, because the Sofia is our regatta, it belongs to all of us, is one of the top five regattas in the world. We must be proud of this achievement, attained thanks to everyone: the organising clubs, our sponsors and the media for your coverage".

"I would like to congratulate publicly all those who participated in the Sofia Mapfre bid for the ISAF Sailing World Cup and thank the support of Mapfre, a company that has just very well deservedly been selected as best sponsor company of the year by the Real Federación Española de Vela", added Muniesa.

"We are very proud to sponsor this regatta because it exalts the values of effort, preparation, acknowledgment of work well done, the will to succeed and perseverance which are also linked to Mapfre, and this is why we will continue to and guarantee our support for many years", stated José Antonio Continente.

An edition marked by London 2012

The 43 Trofeo SAR Princesa Sofia Mapfre, first European stop of the ISAF Sailing World Cup, will be covered with Olympic colours. After last year's long sailing season which started in spring and ended at the ISAF World Championships in Perth (Australia), the Mallorca regatta marks the beginning of the countdown to the Olympics. For many it is the first big event of the season in which the progress made by sailors and their rivals during the winter trainings will be put to the test.

The fact of being an Olympic year is shown by the number of International Olympic teams training since January in Mallorca as winter training base. Club Nàutic S'Arenal has hosted 314 sailors and 37 technical staff from 31 nations from all around the world in its Arenal Training Camps.

Nine classes in action

Nine classes (49er, 470 M, 470 W, Finn, Laser Standard, Laser Radial, Star, Women Match Racing and 2.4mR) will meet in Mallorca over Easter at the first European stop of the ISAF Sailing World Cup, following the regattas in Melbourne and Miami.

The Laser Standard and Laser Radial fleets will be based at Club Marítimo San Antonio de la Playa. Club Nàutic S'Arenal will be the venue for the 470 M, 470 W, 49er and Finn. Real Club Náutico de Palma will be host to Olympic keelboat classes Star and Women's Match Racing while Paralympic class 2.4mR will be based at Escuela de Vela Calanova.

New social events programme

The 43 Trofeo Sofia Mapfre also presents a new social events programme to take place at the new village located at Pabisa Beach Club. The closing event scheduled on Friday 6 is the big party of this edition but it will also be accompanied by other smaller events. For instance, on the last day, there will be the unique opportunity to follow the Medal Races live from this exclusive leisure premises located on the seafront, halfway between Club Nàutic S'Arenal and Club Marítimo San Antonio de la Playa, two of the Organising Clubs together with Real Club Náutico de Palma and Escuela de Vela Calanova.

#OLYMPICS - Yesterday Ireland's Olympic hopefuls celebrated recognition of their success in the 2012 round of funding.

But cuts to the budget of the Irish Sports Council (ISC) have prompted a "major" review of high performance programmes from 2013 onwards, the Irish Independent reports.

Finbarr Kirwan, director of high performance at the ISC, said: "Changes are coming, things are tight and we will have to make strategic cuts in the next two years."

The result could be fewer grant awards of lesser value for athletes, as Olympic qualification standards are set to get tougher from here on out.

The two tiers below 'podium class' - in which individuals receive awards of €20,000 and €12,000 respectively - are expected to be hardest hit in the review.

As previously reported on Afloat.ie, canoeing's Eoin Rheinisch, swimmer Grainne Murphy and sailors Annalise Murphy, Peter O'Leary and David Burrows each received the top level of funding of €40,000 each, which is on a par with last year's support.

The Irish Independent has more on the story HERE.