Finn Lynch remains second overall after the opening day of Gold Fleet racing at the Los Angeles Sailing Grand Slam, while Eve McMahon is still firmly in medal contention with two qualifying days remaining.
Racing on the LA2028 Olympic sailing waters in San Pedro, California, the Irish pair remain well placed after another challenging day of mixed conditions. Lynch is just two points off the overall lead in the ILCA 7 fleet, while McMahon sits fourth in the ILCA 6 standings, only two points behind the leader.
The third day of racing began in a light, unstable breeze before the familiar Southern California sea breeze built to around 15 knots during the afternoon.
The changing conditions tested the fleet. National Yacht Club's Lynch discarded an opening-race 11th before bouncing back with a second-place finish in the stronger breeze.
The result leaves the Irish Olympian just two points behind Great Britain's Michael Beckett heading into the remaining qualifying races.
"When I get off the line with speed, I have good races," Lynch said.
"It took a while for the sea breeze to kick in and the first race was sailed in the lighter conditions. By the second race it was more like 15 knots, and once the sea breeze filled in we had some really beautiful racing."
ILCA 6
In the ILCA 6 fleet, the opening race was abandoned after the morning breeze failed to strengthen within the time limit.
Once racing resumed, Howth Yacht Club's Eve McMahon posted fourth and fifth-place finishes to remain in the hunt for a medal race berth.
McMahon is fourth overall, just two points behind American Charlotte Rose, with only two points separating the top four sailors.
Rose and McMahon have become regular rivals throughout this season's Sailing Grand Slam series. They most recently met on Dublin Bay during the Coaches Invitational Regatta staged ahead of the ILCA World Championships, which will be hosted in Dún Laoghaire later this summer.
There was a tougher day for Howth Yacht Club's Ewan McMahon in the ILCA 7 Gold Fleet. Two 18th-place finishes leave him 19th overall, 20 points outside the top ten with two qualifying days remaining.
The ILCA fleets return to the water tomorrow for the second of three Gold Fleet racing days. Only the top ten sailors will progress to Friday's Medal Races.
The San Pedro Olympic Class Regatta is one of the premier Olympic-class events in the United States and is being sailed at the venue for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games.
