Murphy books Ireland’s Rio place
In spite of the result, Irish team officials slammed the event organisation over yesterday’s race management when winds finally freshened but brought chaos across several courses.
Team management alleged problems with starting-line drifting, official boats not holding station as well as sailors being kept at sea for eight hours for just one race.
“We’re in one of the most beautiful venues in Europe with great conditions but to only get one race is not good enough,” said ISA Performance Manager James O’Callaghan. “It’s not an excuse but coaches don’t need added headaches caused by race management.”
Murphy’s performance recovered ground since Friday’s poor results and despite yesterday’s single race, in which she finished 13th in her Gold fleet, the result was enough to boost her to 16th place by nation and 20th overall.
However, O’Callaghan reckoned the two remaining scheduled races could have been sailed which would have allowed the Dun Laoghaire sailor a chance to reached the top 10 and medal race final. “There’s a sense of relief, a sense of anti-climax but also ‘hang-on we’ve just qualified Ireland for Rio,’” said O’Callaghan. “While the primary goal was for her to beat her personal best, qualification was the second target.”
It was a similar case for the Men’s Laser event where James Espey has already qualified Ireland but was aiming to improve on his 2013 personal best of 31st but ended in 38th with two races dropped from the programme.
With both Laser events now finished for the Irish sailors, attention now switches to the skiff classes that have a rest day scheduled today.
London 2012 veterans Ryan Seaton and Matt McGovern have qualified for the Gold fleet that has three days of racing starting tomorrow. Currently 12th overall, the Ballyholme pair are ninth by nation and inside the qualification standard.
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