#PERTH2011 – Annalise Murphy's World Championships ended in Perth today with a personal best result of sixth overall for the Dun Laoghaire single-hander. She also takes home the all important ticket to the London 2012 regatta, the first Irish sailor to win Olympic qualification. Overall the National Yacht Club sailor had four race wins to her credit, more than any other sailor in her 102-boat fleet.
Annalise on her way to a personal best performance in Perth. Photo: Richard Langdon
While Murphy had put herself back in contention with two firsts on the penultimate day, a Laser Radial medal was always going to be a long shot. In the end hitting the last windward mark in the medal race put paid to the bronze medal which went to America's Page Railey, eight points clear of Murphy.
Conditions were light and difficult for the medal race and Annalise lead for a time but was overtaken by the overall winner Marit Bouwmeester (NED). Annalise also sailed in to a wind hole before finishing eighth in the race to secure a sixth place overall in the championship.
Annalise in action off Fremantle. Photo: Richard Langdon
'I sailed very well at this event but I was very unlucky at the end but I have achieved my objectives which were to qualify for the Olympics and finish in the top 10', Annalise said.
The battle for the world title was fought out between Murphy's biggest rivals.
Evi van Acker (BEL) fought till the very end, but it was not enough to beat an ecstatic Bouwmeester.
"I feel awesome. I said I wanted to dominate the week. It was a really really tough week and I was happy," Bouwmeester said.
"Fight back yesterday and now fight back today. Yea I feel awesome," she said.
It's Bouwmeester's first world title. "I'm going to give my family and friends a big hug, celebrate and say thank you." Many of them were on the grandstand breakwater, cheering her on with flags and cheers of encouragement.
Evi van Acker worked her way to a point where she could have taken the world title, but her efforts weren't enough.
"I keep getting second, it's sad but it keeps me motivated to work more for the Olympics," van Acker said.
Paige Railey (USA) won the bronze by the smallest of margins, taking the medal by a single point. "It's a huge relief. I'm extremely happy to see all the hard work pay off," she said.
The Laser Radial Medal Race sailors had winds of 8-13 knots, but the pressure constantly changed. The spectator breakwater also played a role in defining race tactics.
Veronika Fenclova (CZE) came from 6th to win the medal race.
There were many lead changes before that though. Annalise Murphy (IRL) led leg one, but was overtaken by Bouwmeester on leg two. Sara Winther (NZL) led leg three but was disqualified for breaching rule 42 (pumping).
She was overtaken by van Acker on the second last leg of the race.
It appeared the Belgian sailor was going to win the race but the umpires gave her a penalty for pumping, putting Bouwmeester ahead on points.
"I think I could have won. Some mistakes were made, that's what cost me the gold medal," a dejected van Acker said.
Bouwmeester's fourth place in the Medal Race was enough to win the world title.
"I just had to stay with the front fleet and everything is going to be decided in the last down wind and it worked to my advantage," she said.
Paige Railey spent most of the race at the back of the fleet. "I went pretty risky in the beginning and it didn't pay off." the bronze medallist said.
