Ireland’s Finn Lynch will carry the overall lead into the Gold Fleet stage of the ILCA 7 Men’s World Championship on Dublin Bay, after completing Wednesday’s final qualifying races with a three-point advantage at the top of the 141-boat fleet.
Lynch leads Germany’s Ole Schweckendiek by four points, with Hungary’s Jonatan Vadnai another five points back in third.
It was another day of light and shifty south easterly winds on the bay.
Lynch is joined in Gold Fleet by fellow Irish sailor Ewan McMahon, who qualified in 37th overall, ensuring two home sailors will be among the leading group when the championship moves into its final-series racing on Thursday.
After five races and with the first discard applied, Lynch leads on nine points, ahead of Germany’s Ole Schweckendiek on 12 and Hungary’s Jonatán Vadnai on 14.
Bay View — Finn Lynch seen from above powering his ILCA 7 through Dublin Bay during the second day of World Championship qualifying. Photo: Andrew Conan
Lynch Keeps Hold of World Championship Lead
Lynch followed Tuesday’s outstanding opening day with scores of second and seventh in Wednesday’s two qualifying races.
His five-race sequence now reads 1-2-4-2-(7), with the seventh discarded to leave the National Yacht Club sailor on nine points.
That gives the Irish Olympian a useful, but far from decisive, advantage as the championship moves into Gold Fleet racing.
“I’ve had a decent start and it means a lot to be doing well on home waters. I took each race as it came today, putting myself in a good position at the start and attacking throughout. Dublin Bay can be very tricky, so knowing the waters is definitely an advantage. It has also been great to have family and friends here watching.” Lynch said after racing.
Double Olympic champion Matt Wearn of Australia is tenth overall on 20 points, while Cyprus Olympic medallist Pavlos Kontides is 13th on 26.
Britain’s Elliot Hanson and Michael Beckett are fourth and fifth respectively, both on 15 points, while Croatia’s Tonci Stipanovic is sixth, also on 15.
McMahon Through to Gold Fleet
There was a second boost for the Irish challenge as McMahon secured his place in Gold Fleet.
McMahon added an eighth and 13th on Wednesday and, after discarding his 34th from Tuesday, stands 37th overall on 48 points.
It means both Lynch and McMahon will race against the championship’s leading group when the final series begins.
Fiachra McDonnell has qualified for the Silver Fleet. He lies 99th overall on 116 points after five races, with Wednesday scores of 26th and 28th.
“The fact that I’ve spent more time sailing here than most of the fleet is definitely helpful. We had the Under-21 World Championships here last year, so to have competed in my final junior Worlds and now my first senior Worlds in the same place is a big advantage. That experience helps, but there is still plenty to learn.” McDonnell said.
The remaining Irish sailors — Tom Coulter, Bobby Driscoll and Roger Craig — move into the Bronze Fleet.
Coulter is 112th overall on 133 points, Driscoll 128th on 157 and Craig 134th on 166.
Three-Point Cushion for Lynch
The qualifying series has left Lynch with the strongest scorecard in the championship.
His nine-point total gives him three points over Schweckendiek, five over Vadnai and six over Hanson, Beckett and Stipanovic.
But with Gold Fleet racing now bringing the leading sailors together on the same start line, the complexion of the championship changes significantly from Thursday.
Defending World Champion Willem Wiersema is 30th overall on 38 points after retiring from Wednesday’s fifth race, while former world champion Philipp Buhl is 34th on 44 points.
For Ireland, however, the conclusion of qualifying leaves Lynch exactly where he wants to be: leading a home World Championship on Dublin Bay, with McMahon joining him in the Gold Fleet battle.
Gold Fleet racing begins on Thursday. The championship concludes on Sunday, August 30, when two Medal Series races will decide the final podium positions.
