A layer of smog at the 2008 Olympic Sailing venue in China earlier today prevented the opening races of the ILCA World Championships from getting underway as planned.
Four Irish sailors are contesting the event in both the men's (ILCA 7) and women's (ILCA 6) classes in the campaign towards the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games.
"After a pleasantly surprising training week with great wind and good visibility, today delivered conditions more like what we were expecting - light variable wind and thick smog," commented Ben Walkemeyer, Irish Sailing coach for the ILCA 7 sailors. "It wasn't an easy day to be a race officer."
One race was started in which Ireland’s Finn Lynch (National Yacht Club) and Ewan McMahon (Howth Yacht Club) were both well-placed at the front of the fleet before the abandonment signal was made just before the first of two laps of the course was complete.
"It's easy to get frustrated but better instead to take confidence from the way the race was going," said Walkemeyer. "Finn and Ewan both proved they can get themselves at the front of the fleet early in the regatta - they just have to go and do it again tomorrow."
The women's event was similarly hit by difficult conditions and will also be hoping for three races on Tuesday to catch-up the programme.
"This will be a very stressful event, very complex with wind changes and strong current," said Vasilij Zbogar, Irish Sailing coach for ILCA 6 sailor Eve McMahon (Howth YC). "The key is to be patient and make as few mistakes as possible."
Also competing in Qingdao is Howth's Sienna Wright, fresh from winning silver at the ILCA 6 Youth Europeans in Portugal where she won all top ten results in her series.
Racing at the ILCA World Championships is currently scheduled to resume on Tuesday - conditions permitting - with three races in the qualification round which must have four races completed.
The qualification round will determine the Gold fleet series and ultimately the top ten sailors in each of the ILCA 6 and ILCA 7 events who will compete in Saturday's medal races.