Plucky World Under 23 bronze medallists Robert Dickson (Howth YC) and Sean Waddilove (Skerries Sailing Club) are now 24th overall in the world championship and Olympic qualifier in New Zealand with two days of racing left to sail. As they chase one of four Olympic nation berths on offer this week in the fleet they are currently in eighth country position.
The pair counted two 20th places in Friday's racing in what is effectively their first taste of senior-level Gold fleet competition in the 88-boat fleet.
Full results are here
Ireland's chance of securing an Olympic berth narrowed when top hopes Double-Olympic veteran Ryan Seaton (Ballyholme Yacht Club) with crew Séafra Guilfoyle (Royal Cork YC), crashed out of the gold fleet on Wednesday. They continue the series in the Silver fleet where they count two top 20 results from day four of the competition and in 37th place overall.
Racing continues on Saturday and Sunday with the final series in Gold, Silver and Bronze fleets. Five races remain leading to a medal race final for the top ten boats. Eleven nations are already qualified for Tokyo with four further berths to be decided this week.