At the World Sailing Cup Series in Italy today, Ireland's Finn Lynch is eyeing the top of the Laser leaderboard after four races sailed in a continuation of top form for the National Yacht Club sailor. After top medal race results achieved in Florida in January and Spain earlier this month, the 22-year old is now sitting in third overall in another stand-out performance in some tricky five to seven-knot breezes in the Gulf of Genoa.
If the solo sailor can match or better his seventh in Miami or fourth in Palma it will be a perfect Mediterranean birthday gift for the Carlow native who turns 23 next Tuesday.
Three Laser blue races and two yellow races were completed. Tonci Stipanovic (CRO) sailed his way to a second, tenth and a 36th. His 36th does not yet count as the yellow fleet are a race behind. He holds the lead, with Lynch hovering in the background with a second scored in race four, but Stipanovic currently discards his tenth but his discard will be his 36th once the yellow fleet catch-up.
Most of the competitors hold high scores so once the yellow fleet complete their fourth, plenty more shuffling around is expected in the 111-boat fleet.
Radial Still Waiting to Race
The Laser Radial pushed to complete a race but it was just not possible as the wind died towards the latter part of the afternoon. Line Flem Høst (NOR) and Maud Jayet (SUI) remain tied on a point each after one yellow and blue race. Tipperary’s Aisling Keller and Howth’s Aoife Hopkins are waiting for a second race in the series.
Full results are here. Check out all our Irish Olympic sailing coverage in the build-up to Tokyo 2020 here