Consistent sailing from Green Rebel sailor Ewan McMahon placed him in seventh and sixth to hold seventh overall in his 138-boat event of the ILCA World Championships in Qingdao, China.

After no racing for the first four days due to strong currents, thick smog, and near-calm conditions, the 2008 Olympic venue finally permitted racing to begin on the penultimate day of the event.

With favourable winds throughout the afternoon—consistently above 6 knots—and weakening tidal currents due to the lunar calendar, race officers managed to complete several rounds across both fleets.

Great Britain’s Finley Dickinson tops the standings with a 1–4 score (5 points). Germany’s Ole Schweckendiek also has 5 points and is tied for first.

Olympic veteran Pavlos Kontides of Cyprus posted solid results to claim third place heading into the final day.

Ireland's Finn Lynch (National Yacht Club) didn't fare as well for the day despite getting two very strong starts and placing in the leading group of boats in the initial stages of both races. 

The Carlow sailor dropped to 71st place for the day after 16th and 30th places when he was caught out in windless zones on the course that McMahon proved better at spotting.

“It was a tough day,” commented Ben Walkemeyer, Irish Sailing coach. “It was day five but really it was day one – we had one and half races really because the second one was shortened because of a big windshift.”

In the 99-boat women's ILCA 6 fleet, McMahon's sister Eve also holds a top ten position.

She opened her series with fifth and fourth places that saw her in third overall. But a 14th in their third race allowed the Howth sailor slip back to sixth place.

Poland’s Agata Barwinska leads the overall standings after a consistent 1–3–2 scoreline (6 points). France’s Louise Cervera, who took back-to-back wins in the second and third Blue Fleet races, stands in second. Another Polish sailor, Wiktoria Golebiowska, sits in third overall.

Newcomer to senior level Sienna Wright (Howth YC) lies 24th overall in the ILCA6 event after posting a ninth, 18th and 19th for her opening world championship day.

After the disruption caused by four days of no racing, organisers have changed the rules to allow three races per day and each event must complete four races to constitute a championship.

Saturday's forecast for the final day is for much windier weather. These stronger winds, coupled with the city’s notorious swell and unpredictable shifts, are likely to shake up the leaderboard.