Ireland’s Eve McMahon has climbed to seventh overall at the ILCA 6 Women’s World Championship in Dún Laoghaire after scoring two second places on a turbulent three-race day on Dublin Bay.
The Howth Yacht Club Olympian moved four places up the leaderboard and remains firmly in contention for Saturday’s Medal Series, while American Charlotte Rose regained the overall championship lead with two races of the Elimination Series remaining.
McMahon began Thursday in 11th place and immediately made gains, finishing second to Denmark’s Anna Munch in the opening race after the pair crossed the line almost together.
She followed that with another second place when she and Britain’s Daisy Collingridge established a commanding advantage over the rest of the Gold Fleet, with Collingridge taking the race victory.
The third race proved more difficult. McMahon was caught on the wrong side of the shifting conditions and finished 31st, which became her discard.
Her 2-2-(31) scoreline leaves her seventh overall on 70 points after nine races.
“I had three very unpredictable races in some crazy conditions today,” McMahon said.
“The first two went well and I executed my plan really well, but in the third I just got swallowed up.
“It was that kind of day. Sometimes you get into the right shift and sometimes you don’t.”
Dublin Bay Backdrop: The ILCA 6 fleet races in fresh south-westerly conditions off Dublin, with the Poolbeg chimneys providing a distinctive backdrop. Photo: Jordan Roberts
Rose Reclaims World Championship Lead
At the top of the standings, Rose recovered from a difficult middle race to post 4-(23)-1 and regain the championship lead on 20 points.
Overnight leader Emma Plasschaert of Belgium slipped to second on 33 points after scores of 9-7-(15), while Munch's 1-15-3 moved the Dane from eighth to third on 34.
The Netherlands' Maxime Jonker produced the most consistent scoreline of the day with 5-6-2, climbing from 12th to fourth on 40 points.
New Zealand's Greta Pilkington made an even bigger move, jumping from 19th to fifth with 6-14-4 to reach 53 points.
Rose said the rapidly changing conditions required sailors to keep starting afresh.
“It was definitely a really tough day, one where you just had to reset after every leg,” she said.
“My second race today was all over the place and very tough, but I managed to reset for the third one. The regatta isn’t over until it’s over, so I’m really happy with my performance today.”
'Crazy Conditions' on Dublin Bay
Racing began as scheduled at 11am in 16 to 19 knots and a metre swell, but the breeze fluctuated between seven and 19 knots during the afternoon.
A turning tide later combined with the wind and swell to produce what the international ILCA report described as a “washing-machine effect” on Dublin Bay.
McMahon said her position going into Friday was not quite where she had hoped to be, but her focus was firmly on reaching the Medal Series.
“It’s not the scoreline I wanted, but it’s not over until it’s over,” she said.
“I’ll go out tomorrow, hopefully get two good results and then fight it out in the Medal Series on Saturday.”
Murphy Climbs 11 Places
Annalise Murphy of the National Yacht Club also made significant progress in Gold Fleet.
The Rio Olympic silver medallist climbed 11 places from 32nd to 21st overall, recording 27-36-13 from Thursday's three races.
In Silver Fleet, Sienna Wright of Howth Yacht Club continues to lead after adding fifth and fourth-place finishes.
Lucy Ives of the Royal St George Yacht Club recorded a series of mid-fleet results as she continues her first senior World Championship.
Two races are scheduled for Friday to complete the Elimination Series and determine the top ten sailors who advance to Saturday's Medal Series.
The first possible warning signal is at 11am, with lighter conditions forecast.
