Day 4: 27 July 2021

49er fleet finds form as Dickson and Waddilove enjoy Tokyo 2020 racing

After Tuesday's memorable opening race win for Ireland's Robert Dickson and Sean Waddilove, windier conditions brought big waves to the Men's 49er skiff event at Tokyo 2020 where the Dublin pair were happy enough with their three mid-fleet results on Wednesday.

Racing on the deeper water course, three races staged over two hours saw the class favourites become established at the top of the leaderboard.

"It was a lot windier and wavier, pretty nice conditions and pretty enjoyable," said Robert Dickson (Howth Yacht Club).

The Dublin crew posted 12th, 11th and 13th for the day with the last score discarded as their worst of the series.  The day leaves them eleventh overall and one point off the top ten.

"We’re not coming in confused or deflated," Sean Waddilove (Skerries Sailing Club).  "We know what we need to change for the next day which are some simple things."

Thursday was supposed to have been a rest day for the 49er fleet but due to the loss of the programme on Tuesday due to the weather, two races will be held on one of the busiest days of the Olympic Regatta so far that will feature eight disciplines in action.

"That they are following their process and able to identify how to improve is everything we could ask for at a first Olympic Games," said James O'Callaghan, Performance Director with Irish Sailing.

Meanwhile, Annalise Murphy will resume her regatta on Thursday when the penultimate day of fleet racing is held with two more races scheduled in the women's single-handed event.

The double-Olympic veteran and Rio Silver medallist moved from 32nd place to 20th on Tuesday before a rest day on Wednesday.  She trails the top ten by 33 points and a place in Sunday's medal race final depends on keeping up Tuesday's form.

Photo: Sailing Energy

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Day 3 - Dream Debut Win

Day 2 - Form Reset Needed

Day 1 - Challenging Light Weather at Enoshima