Ireland’s Finn Lynch has staged a superb fightback on Dublin Bay to secure the tenth and final place in Sunday’s two-race Final Series at the ILCA 7 Men’s World Championship.
The National Yacht Club sailor, who had tumbled from second to 13th overall after a difficult Friday, responded with a sixth and second place on Saturday in tricky light winds conditions to climb back into the top ten and keep his World Championship medal hopes alive.
Organisers confirmed on Saturday evening that Lynch has qualified for the ten-boat finale, where he will line up alongside three British sailors, championship leader Elliot Hanson, Michael Beckett and Finley Dickinson, as well as Singapore’s Ryan Lo and double Olympic champion Matt Wearn of Australia.
Lynch Delivers When It Matters
Lynch began Saturday five points outside the crucial top ten after Friday's 33rd and 43rd places had dramatically interrupted an impressive championship in which he had led after the qualifying series.
With only two Elimination Series races remaining, there was little margin for another high score.
Instead, Lynch delivered his strongest combination since the opening days of the championship.
A sixth in Saturday's first Gold Fleet race put him back into contention before a second place in the final race completed the recovery.
He finishes the Qualification Series in tenth overall on 90 net points, taking the last available place in Sunday's Final Series.
“I’m feeling good. I sailed well today, did what I needed to do and secured my place in tomorrow’s Medal Series, which is great,” Lynch said.
“The points are halved for the Medal Series, so everything remains open even though I’m going into it in 10th place. I have nothing to lose tomorrow, so anything from here is a bonus. I’m really looking forward to it.”
Double Olympic champion Wearn is immediately ahead in ninth on 89 points.
Hanson Takes Championship Lead
There was also a significant change at the top of the leaderboard on Saturday.
Britain's Elliot Hanson moved into first overall on 62 points, two points ahead of overnight leader Ryan Lo of Singapore on 64.
Britain's Michael Beckett is another point back on 65, leaving just three points separating the leading trio before Sunday's finale.
Croatia's Tonci Stipanovic is fourth on 76, followed by Hungary's Jonatán Vadnai and Britain's Finley Dickinson, both on 83.
Lorenzo Brando Chiavarini of Italy is seventh on 86, Nicholas Halliday of Hong Kong eighth on 88, Wearn ninth on 89 and Lynch tenth on 90.
Medal Still Within Reach
Lynch's fightback was even more impressive than the bare 6-2 scoreline suggests. The Irish sailor revealed after racing that he had been over the line in Saturday's opening race before recovering to sixth.
“I was over in the first race and came back to sixth, and then second in the second race, so I did exactly what I needed to do to get back into the top ten,” Lynch said.
“Now it’s the finals tomorrow, which is great, and all the points are halved, so everything’s still open, even though I came in tenth.”
The late confirmation of a scoring penalty for third-placed Michael Beckett has also compressed Lynch's route to the podium. Beckett carries 36 points into Sunday's Final Series, while Lynch carries 45, leaving the Irish sailor nine points from the bronze-medal position.
The ten finalists will therefore begin Sunday approximately as follows:
| Sailor | Nation | Carry Forward |
|---|---|---|
| Elliot Hanson | GBR | 31 |
| Ryan Lo | SGP | 32 |
| Michael Beckett | GBR | 36 |
| Tonci Stipanovic | CRO | 38 |
| Jonatán Vadnai | HUN | 42 |
| Finley Dickinson | GBR | 42 |
| Lorenzo Brando Chiavarini | ITA | 43 |
| Nicholas Halliday | HKG | 44 |
| Matt Wearn | AUS | 45 |
| Finn Lynch | IRL | 45 |
Ties in the championship are broken by the result in the last race, under the amended Sailing Instructions.
Two-Race Dublin Bay Finale
Sunday's Final Series will also bring a change of racing format.
The ten finalists are scheduled for two short races, using a windward-leeward course rather than the trapezoid used during qualification. The target race time is just 15 to 20 minutes, with no shortening permitted.
For Lynch, it represents a remarkable recovery from Friday evening, when his place among the championship's top ten was under serious threat.
Now, after a 6-2 Saturday performance, the Irish Olympian goes into the final day of a home World Championship with a place in the top ten secured — and a World Championship medal still within reach.
