Consistent Finn Lynch kept Irish hopes of a top ILCA 7/Laser result at Palma’s Princesa Sofia Regatta on a gusty second day of qualification in the 162-boat fleet.
Rio 2016 Olympian Lynch (National Yacht Club) sits in 20th overall out of 163 boats so makes the 55-boat Gold fleet cut with races to spare.
Likewise, his main rival for Paris 2024, Howth YC’s Ewan McMahon counts three out of four races with top 14 places so also makes the Gold fleet in 38th place overall.
McMahon's younger brother Jamies lies 56th overall dropping back in the overall scores after a capsize in a choppy Bay of Palma.
Beckett on top in ILCA 7, gold medallist on the prowl
Britain’s Michael Beckett moved to the top of the 180 boat ILCA 7 leaderboard after scoring 1,2 in the Blue Group of Qualifying.
Reigning Olympic Champion Matt Wearn winner here in 2018, scored the reciprocal results of 2,1 in Blue Group but the Australian has risen only to 32nd overall in the 167 boat fleet after a DNC yesterday.
Beckett was pleased with his day but is expecting a much harder fight from tomorrow Wednesday when the top tier get reorganised into Gold Fleet racing. “None of it’s easy but in those conditions today the top five do start to stretch a bit of a gap after a while,” said Beckett. “Tomorrow it’s going to be much harder, the margins will be much smaller and the quality of the fleet will make it a bigger challenge.”
Racing continues on Wednesday for all fleets and the prospect of lighter conditions for the second half of the regatta that continues until Saturday when the medal race finals for all classes will be sailed.