#PERTH 2011 – Belfast pairing Ryan Seaton and Matt McGovern are on their way to the London Olympic Games thanks to another solid performance in Perth today in the crucial closing stages of the 49er World Skiff Championships. It's Ireland's second successful qualification result at the ISAF World Championships. Last week Annalise Murphy became the first Irish sailor through. The pair who been recording impressive results in the breezy championships currently lie 10th overall and seventh country. Seaton and McGovern took two fifth places today to take Olympic qualification with ease.
Ryan Seaton and Matt McGovern from Ireland have qualified for the Olympics in the 49er class today. Photo: Richard Langdon
The 67– boat fleet now splits into Gold and Silver fleets with the top 25 boats entering the Gold fleet. Racing will continue through to Saturday with the top 10 teams then continuing on to the medal race on Sunday.
Fourteen London 2012 49er spots were available at Perth 2011 and after eight races the 14 places have been decided. Australia, Austria, Croatia, Denmark, Spain, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, New Zealand, Poland, Portugal, Sweden and the USA will all be on the starting line at Weymouth next year.
Croatia's Pavle Kostov and Petar Cupac made the gold fleet by six points ahead of Steve Thomas and Jaspar Warren (AUS). They take the last qualification spot and if selected will compete at their second Olympic Sailing Competition after their 17th place finish at Beijing 2008.
Five more 49er spots will be available at the 2012 World Championship in Zadar, Croatia from 4-13 May 2012.