Hard work paying off as Irish star Murphy excels in laser class

ANNALISE MURPHY sailed to an inspirational victory in the second Laser Radial race at the ISAF Sailing World Championships in Australia yesterday.

Leading from the first turning mark to the finish, clear ahead of Holland’s Marit Bouwmeester (a hot favourite for Olympic gold next year), she was delighted with her performance.

“Four years ago I was 17 and in Cascais, and I can’t even remember any of the races,” she said.

“I just remember I was in awe of the girls I was racing against, and now here I am beating some of them.

“I knew I could win races here. I have done a lot of training here over the last three weeks and have done well against other really good girls in the world. So I did have the feeling I could win races, or certainly have good races. So overall it’s a pretty good first day. I learned that I have good downwind speed, I realised that in the first race, so I knew what to do.

“I have improved a massive amount this season. I am a bit more mature in my decisions. I have trained really hard because the Olympics are coming up and I want to be in the best possible shape.”

In the Men’s 470 class Ireland’s Ger Owens and Scott Flanigan made a decent start to their challenge for Olympic qualification which would open funding doors for them, with a 17th in the first race and a good seventh in their second heat to lie 20th.