Ireland's Eve McMahon and Finn Lynch remain firmly in medal contention at the Los Angeles Sailing Grand Slam after both qualified for Friday's Final Series. The Irish pair go into the decisive races in fourth overall on the Olympic waters that will host sailing at the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games., with the new World Sailing Finals format keeping the podium wide open.
Thursday's final fleet races moved inside the breakwater of the Port of Los Angeles, where shifty winds and strong current created a markedly different tactical challenge from the open-water courses sailed earlier in the week.
The venue change provided competitors with another valuable opportunity to gain experience on the future Olympic racecourse.
In the ILCA 6 fleet, Great Britain's Hannah Snellgrove retained the overall lead, while the Netherlands' Maxime van de Werken-Jonker continued an impressive climb up the leaderboard to move into second ahead of American Charlotte Rose.
Howth Yacht Club'sEve McMahon recorded a sixth and a 16th place to qualify comfortably for the Final Series. She starts the medal-deciding races in fourth overall, tied on points with Rose after successfully protesting the American following a port-starboard incident in the opening race of the day. Rose's disqualification proved one of the biggest turning points of the fleet racing phase.
Irish Sailing ILCA 6 coach Vasilij Zbogar said the stronger breeze inside the harbour produced demanding conditions.
"We had good breeze today, up to around 16 knots inside the Port where the conditions are a little more difficult. Eve had a solid top ten finish in the opening race, but in the second she just couldn't make the conditions work in her favour."
He added:
"The important thing is that we've qualified comfortably for the Medal Series. It's very open, so we'll regroup, prepare well and be ready to fight for the top."
In the ILCA 7 fleet, Cyprus's Pavlos Kontides carries the overall lead into Friday ahead of Australia's Matt Wearn, while Britain's Michael Beckett reclaimed third after winning the final race of the day.
National Yacht Club's Finn Lynch secured his place in the Final Series with consistent ninth and 10th-place finishes. He starts fourth overall, just one point behind Beckett, with the medals still very much within reach.
Fellow Howth Yacht Club sailor Ewan McMahon endured a difficult day, posting 21st and 27th-place finishes. The results left him outside the top ten and out of the Final Series.
Irish Sailing ILCA 7 coach Ben Walkemeyer believes Lynch remains well placed under the revised scoring format.
"Gold Fleet racing wrapped up today with Finn finishing just one point off the podium. Under the new format and points adjustment he'll be battling with four or five other sailors for a medal, so it's all still to play for."
Walkemeyer praised Lynch's pace throughout the week.
"He sailed some very well-executed races today and his speed has been excellent all week. When he's been able to control his space off the start line he's put together some really strong races. We're looking forward to seeing what he can do in the Final Series."
Looking ahead to future events, he added:
"Ewan has also shown good speed throughout the regatta but has struggled a little with his starts. That's something we'll continue to work on as we build towards the World Championships in Dublin."
Summing up the campaign, Walkemeyer said the team's first experience of the Los Angeles Olympic venue had already proved invaluable.
"Overall, we've taken a huge amount from this week. It's our first time racing at the Los Angeles Olympic venue, so the experience we've gained and the knowledge we've built of the racecourse will be invaluable over the next two years."
Friday's Final Series introduces World Sailing's new medal race format, designed to keep more sailors mathematically in contention until the end of the regatta. Qualification scores are compressed before two final races, with no discard, meaning every position could prove decisive.
Nearly 200 sailors from 34 nations, including 35 Olympians and eight Olympic medallists, have contested the six-day San Pedro Olympic Classes Regatta, one of only two major Olympic class regattas held annually in the United States.
With compressed scores and just two races remaining, McMahon and Lynch both head into the finale with realistic hopes of reaching the podium on the future Olympic waters of Los Angeles 2028.
