Finn Lynch narrowly missed out on Gold fleet racing overnight – by a single place – after three days of qualifying races at the Laser European Championships in La Rochelle, France.
While Ireland's three boat Olympic Laser sailing team competing in France have all dropped back after a 'steady start', Lough Derg's Aisling Keller, who was as high as 13th after day one, lies 47th in the 93–boat Radial fleet and makes the Gold fleet.
After six races sailed, the National Yacht Club's Lynch, who was 37th after day one, now lies 55th, one place off gold fleet standard.
Ballyholme's Liam Glynn is 88th from 160 entries and will also race in the 53–boat silver fleet.
Maeve Leonard will race in the Radial silver fleet.
Howth Yacht Club's Aoife Hopkins is not competing due to exams.
Ireland has a single entry in the Mens Radial division with Wexford Harbour's Ronan Wallace lying eighth overall from 59.
New Zealanders Sam Meech and Andrew McKenzie continued their charge at the Laser European championships in La Rochelle overnight (NZ time) but things are about to get a whole lot more difficult as all the other top sailors join them in gold fleet.
Meech is second and McKenzie third after three days of qualifying. Meech added a second and fourth overnight and is now one point behind Australia's Matthew Wearn and McKenzie banked two third-placed finishes to be another five points behind.
The complexion of racing will change tonight as the top 54 sailors compete over three days in gold fleet, including a third New Zealander George Gautrey who qualified in 42nd. The first three days saw the 160 competitors split into three fleets, which saw some very low scoring from many in the top 20.
Susannah Pyatt is the best placed of the trio of New Zealanders in the Laser Radial in 19th with Olivia Christie 39th.
Results and standings after the thrd day of the Laser European Championships at La Rochelle, France, overnight:
Laser (160 boats)
1. Matthew Wearn, AUS, 5 points
2. Sam Meech, NZL, 6
3. Andrew McKenzie, NZL, 11
Laser Radial (93 boats)
1. Maxime Jonker, NED, 5
2. Marit Bouwmeester, NED, 10
3. Emma Plasschaert, BEL, 14
Full results: eurilca.org