Lynch holds second as World Championship battle intensifies

Finn Lynch has moved to second place following the opening day of Gold Fleet racing at the ILCA 7 Men’s World Championship in Dún Laoghaire on Thursday.

A shifting north-easterly breeze of around 10 knots, combined with an ebbing tide, created a significant swell and choppy conditions on Dublin Bay. Rain and reduced visibility added to a tricky third day of racing for the fleet as they completed two races.

Lynch began the day with a three-point lead at the top of the standings, but a difficult start to the opening race left him with work to do. A decision to race towards the left-hand side of the course failed to pay off for much of the fleet, and Lynch finished 31st, a result he was able to discard.

He recovered well in the second race, remaining towards the front of the fleet before finishing tenth. The result moved Lynch down one place to second overall, just two points behind the new leader, Singapore’s Ryan Lo.

Also in Gold Fleet, Ewan McMahon (Howth Yacht Club) has moved up another five places as he recorded 14th and 23rd places.

Speaking after racing, the Howth sailor said, “It has been a little difficult so far. The standard is extremely high and there really is no room for error. Any mistakes are punished immediately.

“The conditions are proving tough and trying to get the strategy right can become a bit of a mind game. There is a lot of chop on the water and the wind is oscillating between the southwest and northwest, so when it drops, it can be difficult to keep the boat moving well.

“It is great, though, to have everyone getting the authentic Irish weather experience and to have family and friends nearby watching.” 

In Bronze Fleet, Irish Sailing Development sailor Fiachra McDonnell (Royal Irish Yacht Club) had a good day on the water with a fourth place in the his first race leaving him ninth overall in his fleet.

Fellow Development sailor Bobby Driscoll (Ballyholme Yacht Club) has faced a steep learning curve in his first senior World Championship.

Speaking after racing, Driscoll said, “This is the trickiest event I have ever competed in. It is a very smart and fast fleet, but I am really glad to be gaining this experience.

“The light winds combined with the big swell make the conditions particularly tough. I think I would prefer heavier winds. There is such a big step up from youth competition. At youth events, I never felt behind straight off the start line, whereas this is a whole new level of racing.” Racing continues tomorrow with the second day of Gold Fleet racing. The championship concludes on Sunday, 30 August, with two Medal Series races deciding the final podium positions. The Medal Series will be livestreamed on the ILCA YouTube Channel.