Murphy struggles in Spain

Ireland’s fortunes could hardly have been more mixed in the two Laser single-handed classes on the opening day of the ISAF Sailing World Championships in Santander yesterday, as the hunt for a place at Rio 2016 heats up.

London 2012 veteran Annalise Murphy will need a massive turnaround today after two disappointing results yesterday when she placed 37th and 44th in the Laser Radial fleet.

The National Yacht Club sailor lies 86th in her class of 120 boats currently split into two flights before qualifying for the Gold fleet.

From there, only the top 10 boats qualify for the medal race finale next Thursday. The top 19 nations overall will qualify for a place at the next Olympics in the first of two such opportunities.

However, Murphy will need to deliver a huge performance today in both races to regain lost ground. While a place in the medal race might be a distant prospect — in contrast to her results over the last three years — her primary goal in Spain over the next week is qualification.

Such an outcome would allow her concentrate fully on preparing for Rio’s notoriously tricky conditions.

However, Santander has proven equally challenging. After a pre-worlds training period in breezy conditions, the weather has changed to light and very shifty winds and is likely to remain so for the next few days at least.

“The pressure is on Annalise and she only has one day to turn it around,” said James O’Callaghan, ISA Performance Manager.

In the men’s event for the Standard rig Lasers, the first true test in world class conditions took place between London veteran James Espey from Ballyholme Yacht Club and Carlow’s Finn Lynch, the up and coming high-performance prospect representing the National YC. Espey and Lynch are in the same qualification flight that includes multiple gold medallist Robert Scheidt of Brazil.

In the opening race, Espey finished sixth, seven places ahead of Scheidt while Lynch was 27th, an encouraging result considering his recent graduation into the Standard rig fleet that is known as one of the most physically demanding in the Olympic line-up.

Espey followed on with a 16th in race two and lies 26th overall at this early stage. His goal is top 23 by nation and his form is currently inside this standard. A second place for Scheidt moved him up to eighth overall.

Lynch had a 43rd in race two leaving him 109th overall in the 147-boat fleet.

“It’s a fantastic start for James; for Finn, it’s fair to say he’s just got a taste of what the world standard is all about,” remarked O’Callaghan. “I wouldn’t be critical of him — he’s here to learn and he’s undoubtedly a quality sailor.”