Bronze medal for Ireland's Finn Lynch at European Championships in Greece
Finn Lynch has won the Bronze medal at the ILCA European Championships at Athens today after a three-race final day that ended a weather-hit event.
The Carlow sailor had a consistent day of top ten results to end the eight-race regatta on equal points with Hungary’s Jonatan Vadnai who took the silver on tie-break.
Both boats were just four points off Gold where Valterri Uusiltalo topped the 141-boat fleet for Finland.
Lynch now adds a Bronze to his world championship silver at Barcelona in 2021 as he aims to secure the Irish place for the Men's single-handed event at the Paris 2024 Olympics this Summer.
"It was very tricky, very up and down for the three races of mostly six knots, maximum eleven," commented Irish Sailing's Laser Coach Vasilij Zbogar. "We were hoping for a little more wind, preferably over 10 knots where Finn definitely has an edge. But we wanted a medal here, we got a medal here so we're happy."
The Rio 2016 Olympic veteran is in a selection trials series with Ewan McMahon who ended this week's event in 17th place and at times was leading Lynch.
While a third regatta was included in the Irish selection trials series, Lynch cannot be beaten and is set to be recommended by the Olympic Steering Group to the Irish Sailing board for nomination to the Olympic Federation of Ireland for inclusion in the national team for Paris.
However, there was a silver-lining for McMahon whose jump in performance and results this week means he has regained his status for Sport Ireland funding.
McMahon's younger sibling Eve was also competing in her ILCA 6 class championship in Athens though the event was intended to concentrate on her starting technique with coach Annalise Murphy in attendance.
Already qualified for Paris and her debut Olympic appearance, McMahon finished a creditable 15th overall for her event. Like the remainder of the squad, she will compete at the forthcoming French Olympic Week in Hyeres as her final major competition before the Olympics.
“Overall, it was a very successful event for the Irish sailors. Eve is so young, still only 19 and sailed a great week to come 15th at a European championships is really great,” said Murphy. “It’s definitely a tricky time of year to sail in Athens, not much wind so very frustrating. But overall it ended up working out well so very positive going into the next few months.”
The European Championships in Athens attracted 326 boats across three disciplines but the schedule was heavily affected by lack of wind on most days that curtailed the event and led to high scores by all the top sailors.
The next event in the Sailing schedule will be the 49er World Championships in Lanzarote in ten days’ time which will be the first selection trials regatta for the sole Irish place in the Men's skiff event for Paris 2024.
DAY 5
All three Irish sailors into Gold fleet with top 20 places at European championships
Improved wind conditions at the ILCA European Championships at Athens today saw all three Irish sailors qualify for the Gold fleet final round that will conclude the event on Friday.
In the ILCA 7 class, the selection trials for the sole Irish place for the Paris 2024 Men's single-handed has narrowed as this second of three regattas draws to a close.
After faltering in the very light winds of today's first race, Finn Lynch (National Yacht Club) bounced back to form as the wind freshened steadily during the afternoon to score and third and a race win in his 47 boat qualification fleet.
His rival for the single nation place at the Olympics, Ewan McMahon also had a good day to include third and seventh places in addition to a 20th.
Both men are well inside the criteria for the fleet final round with Lynch in 14th place and McMahon trailing in 17th by just four points.
With a good forecast of similar conditions for Friday, organisers will attempt to sail three fleet races but the weather disrupted schedule means the Olympic style medal race for the top ten boats has been cancelled.
Meanwhile, Eve McMahon who is already confirmed for Paris 2024 improved her overall position in the ILCA6 championship where she lies 14th overall.
Originally intended as a training process event to concentrate on her starting tactics with coach Annalise Murphy, McMahon could yet deliver one of her strongest results at senior level barely a year after leaving her super-successful youth career.
"The close results in the ILCA7 event and trials show the value of this process but also the depth of talent we have at senior level," commented James O'Callaghan, Irish Sailing's Performance Director. "As predicted before the regatta started, it will be high-scoring and much can still change on the final day depending on how many races can be sailed."
"We had no wind for a while but they managed to squeeze in three races," said Murphy who is coaching McMahon this week. "She has one race tomorrow so will end up outside the top ten but can still pull up a few more places."
DAY 4
More calm conditions block racing at European championships in Greece
No racing was held due to continued light winds at the ILCA European Championships in Athens today where three Irish sailors are in action.
Since starting the championship series on Sunday, just three out of a planned eight race schedule to date have been completed for the women's ILCA 6 class while the men in the ILCA 7 have had two races.
Finn Lynch (National Yacht Club) and Ewan McMahon (Howth Yacht Club) along with Eve McMahon (Howth YC) were among the 300 sailors who went afloat in the hope of wind but the calm weather persisted.
Organisers have now opted to cancel the Olympic format medal race final on Friday and instead concentrate on fleet races.
Four races are needed to constitute a championship but the hope is that the qualification round will be completed on Thursday allowing for Gold fleet racing on Friday to decide the event.
DAY 3
Racing underway for all Irish sailors at ILCA European Championships in Athens
Two races were completed in between spells of near calm conditions at the ILCA European Championships in Athens today where three Irish sailors are in action.
Finn Lynch and Ewan McMahon were only at sea for a few hours when they were recalled to shore as the wind died.
Lynch and McMahon are competing in the six-day series that also serves as part of the selection trials for the single national place already secured for the Men's single-handed event at the Paris 2024 Olympics. It was the same for women's event where Eve McMahon is competing.
After a few hours, all classes were afloat again for the two races but daylight began fading before the organisers could set a third course.
Eve McMahon has already qualified for Paris 2024 and is using this event to work on her starting tactics with coach and Olympic Silver medallist Annalise Murphy.
In the men's event, both Irish sailors had almost matching scores in their respective qualifying fleets with Lynch scoring 22nd followed by a fourth; McMahon had a 23rd then a fourth also.
"Eve had two good starts and was definitely one of the better performers for the day," commented the Rio 2016 Olympian turned coach. "She a 7th and a 12th, both good races considering the conditions."
The light conditions were clearly signalled by the forecast since last week and the resulting tricky conditions can be seen in the results so far.
"It's up to the sailor in the moment to choose which way to sail but the conditions are so hard to manage that I expected from before the event started that it will be a high-scoring event," commented Irish Sailing's Laser Coach Vasilij Zbogar.
With more light winds expected for Day 4 on Wednesday, organisers will again try for three races although once four have been completed the minimum standard for a championship event will have been reached.
DAY 2
No wind again delays start to ILCA7 European Championships in Athens
For the second consecutive day, high pressure over Greece left the ILCA European Championships without racing in Athens today.
If conditions improve on Tuesday, event organisers will attempt to sail additional races to regain the races lost from the schedule so far. The championship requires a minimum of four races to constitute an effective competition.
Two Irish sailors are competing in the six-day series that also serves as part of the selection trials for the single national place already secured for the Men's single-handed event at the Paris 2024 Olympics.
Finn Lynch and Ewan McMahon were afloat for several hours in their 141-boat ILCA7 waiting for wind to arrive. In the women's ILCA 6 event, Eve McMahon also had no racing though her event was able to sail a single race on Sunday to begin their series.
Four days remain in the event schedule to deliver sufficient races before Friday's finale.
DAY 1
Calm conditions delay start to ILCA7 European Championships in Athens
High pressure over Greece left the majority of competitors without racing on the opening day of the ILCA European Championships in Athens today.
Two Irish sailors are competing in the six-day series that also serves as part of the selection trials for the single national place already secured for the Men's single-handed event at the Paris 2024 Olympics.
Finn Lynch and Ewan McMahon were amongst the 141-boat ILCA7 class that waited ashore for breeze to arrive. Although the fleet eventually went afloat, no racing was possible.
A similar forecast is predicted for Monday though there are indications of fresher conditions for Tuesday.
The ILCA6 fleet was also afloat and did manage to get one race. Ireland's Eve McMahon scored a 21st place for the day.
Her place for Paris 2024 is already secure thanks to her result at the world championships last month. Her priority at this event is to concentrate on starting technique and has the assistance this week of Olympic Silver medallist Annalise Murphy as her coach.
Racing is scheduled to continue daily from Monday to Friday - weather permitting - with the opening round comprising a qualification series of at least four races to decide Gold fleet. The top ten finishers will compete for the medal race final on Friday to decide the podium.
Irish sailors contest for Paris Olympics place warms up in Athens next week
With five months remaining before the Paris 2024 Olympic regatta begins in Marseilles, the selection series for the Men's single-handed event faces its second of three regattas at the ILCA 7 European Championships next week
Carlow's Finn Lynch is being challenged for the sole Irish berth by Ewan McMahon in an 141-boat event.
Lynch currently has the edge in the trials after placing ninth overall in last month's ILCA 7 class world championships in Adelaide.
A strong showing by McMahon in Greece next week would leave the pair needing the French Olympic Week event in April to decide the Irish Sailing nomination to the Olympic Federation of Ireland.
"The trials will be decided on a high-points scoring basis that incentivises both sailors to concentrate on their best regatta score rather than winning the place for Paris 2024," commented James O'Callaghan, Irish Sailing's Director of Performance. "Win, draw or lose we're hoping that Ewan will also regain Sport Ireland's carding status."
To regain the funding status, a top 20 place is needed for the Howth sailor after missing the criteria on recent attempts. Irish Sailing has previously stated its own long term ambition to have three boats in each discipline compete in the senior squad.
Lynch previously won Silver at the 2021 World Championship in Barcelona, the best ever Irish result in this notoriously demanding discipline. Though he missed qualification for the Tokyo Olympics, he secured the Irish berth for Paris 2024 at the combined Sailing World Championships at The Hague in August 2023.
Meanwhile, Rio 2016 silver medallist Annalise Murphy will be on the water in Athens though in a coach role to Eve McMahon, younger sibling of Ewan who is already confirmed for the Women's single-handed event at Paris 2024.
Her event will be the ILCA 6 European Championship though the series is intended for her to concentrate on her starting technique, a noted speciality for Murphy and the regatta has not been designated as a peak event for McMahon.
"There is no ceiling for Eve now that she has qualified for her first Olympic Games," said O'Callaghan. "Everything that she achieves this year from now on is a bonus."
Racing gets underway for both events on Sunday with a qualification round over three days to decide the Gold fleet split before the final round commences on Wednesday and the Medal Race for the top ten boats on Friday to decide the podium.