Irish pair delighted with silver

Ireland’s silver medallist pairing of Ryan Seaton and Matt McGovern are still coming to terms with their display the ISAF World Cup in Hyeres, France on Saturday.

The pair, who compete in the 49er class, sailed a total of 17 races over six consecutive days and against 79 of the world’s top sailors to claim the silver medal. An impressive 15 top 10 race finishes left them eight points clear of 2012 Olympic Gold medallists Nathan Outteridge and Iain Jensen from Australia, who finished third overall. Kiwis Peter Burling and Blair Tuke, who finished second in the 2012 Games, ultimately took the gold.

“It feels absolutely amazing. Probably still waiting for it to sink in a little. It’s been a great day,” McGovern enthused.

Seaton added: “We knew we could do it, we just had to get good starts and sail well. We have been consistent all week and that gave us confidence going in to today.”

It was an important regatta, providing a good indicator of Seaton and McGovern’s ranking among the best sailors in the world as they prepare for the 49er European Championships in July before the focal event of the season — the Olympic qualifier in Spain in September.

Annalise Murphy was also competing in a medal race on Saturday in the Laser Radial class where she finished seventh overall from the 79 boat fleet.

“The Worlds and Olympic qualification in Santander this autumn is the main event of the year,” she said.

“This week has given me an insight on what I need to work on, so when Santander comes around hopefully I’ll be ready to have a good regatta.”

Three other Irish teams were also sailing at the World Cup. In the Paralympic Sonar class, John Twomey, Ian Costelloe and Austin O’Carroll finished seventh overall.

Andrea Brewster and Saskia Tidey finished a respectable 16th out of 42 boats while James Espey was sailing in the men’s Laser Standard fleet of 123 and finished 71st.

Meanwhile, Séafra Guilfoyle from Cork beat off stiff competition from his fellow ISA Laser Radial Academy team-mates to reign supreme at the 2014 ISA (Irish Sailing Association) Youth Pathway National Championships at Howth Yacht Club yesterday.