McMahon Climbs to Seventh in ILCA World Championship
Ireland’s Eve McMahon has moved into seventh place overall at the ILCA 6 Women’s World Championship in Dún Laoghaire after recording two second-place finishes today.
A fresh and gusty south-westerly breeze delivered a lively day of racing, with winds of approximately 15 to 20 knots and stronger gusts passing across the course. The breeze eased as the day progressed, allowing three races to be completed.
McMahon opened with an impressive second place behind Denmark’s Anna Munch. The result went down to the wire, with both sailors crossing the finish line almost together before the Dane narrowly took the win.
In the second race, McMahon and Britain’s Daisy Collingridge established a commanding lead over the rest of the fleet, with Collingridge taking the win and McMahon securing her second runner-up finish of the day.
The final race proved more difficult as shifting winds and strengthening gusts reshaped the fleet. McMahon found herself on the wrong side of the changes and finished 32nd.
Speaking after racing, McMahon said: “I had three very unpredictable races in some crazy conditions today. The first two went well and I executed my plan really well, but in the third I just got swallowed up.
“It was that kind of day. Sometimes you get into the right shift and sometimes you don’t.”
Talking about the Championship as a whole, she continued, “It’s not the scoreline I wanted, but it’s not over until it’s over. I’ll go out tomorrow, hopefully get two good results and then fight it out in the Medal Series on Saturday.”
The results moved the Howth sailor four places up the standings to seventh overall. With another discard due to come into play tomorrow, McMahon remains firmly in contention for a place in Saturday’s Medal Series.
Rio Olympic silver medallist Annalise Murphy (National Yacht Club) also completed three Gold Fleet races, recording a best finish of 13th. She climbed 11 places in the overall standings, moving from 32nd to 21st.
In Silver Fleet, Sienna Wright of Howth Yacht Club continues to lead the standings after adding fifth and fourth-place finishes.
Lucy Ives of host club Royal St George Yacht Club recorded a series of mid-fleet results as she continues to gain valuable experience at her first senior World Championship.
Lighter conditions are forecast for the final day of Gold Fleet racing tomorrow, with the Race Committee aiming to complete two races.
The championship concludes on Saturday, 12 September, when the Medal Series will decide the final podium positions.