Bronze for Eve McMahon at LA Sailing Grand Slam

The Howth woman claimed third in the opening race and then fourth in the final race.

Eve McMahon in action. Pic Colin Grey

Eve McMahon has secured the bronze medal at the Los Angeles Sailing Grand Slam, the venue where she will also compete at the 2028 Olympic Games.

McMahon, 22, was fourth overall as she started the Final Series and made up one place to make the Women's Dinghy (ILCA 6) final podium after a calm performance in San Pedro against many of her Olympic rivals.

Racing inside the bay in perfect conditions, the Howth woman - a world championships bronze medallist last year - claimed third in the opening race and then fourth in the final race to finish in the bronze medal positional overall, just two points behind silver medallist Charlotte Rose of the USA and four behind Britain's Hannah Snellgrove.

Irish Sailing ILCA 6 Coach Vasilij Zbogar said: "Eve sailed a very strong Final Series. In the first race she finished third, which kept the pressure on the leaders and gave us a comfortable gap back to fourth overall.

"She executed the second race well too. She had a good start and made the right strategic decisions, but the conditions inside the bay were very shifty and difficult to read.

"She still sailed an excellent race to finish fourth. Unfortunately, the sailors in first and second also finished ahead of her, so there was no opportunity to move up. Eve did everything she could this week and we're very happy to come away with the bronze medal.

"We'll take a short break now before getting straight back to work preparing for the World Championships in Ireland in September. There's still plenty to improve, but that's where our focus is now. Racing for a world title on home waters is a huge opportunity and we'll do everything we can to be ready."

In the Men's Dinghy (ILCA 7) finals, Finn Lynch failed to medal after beginning the day in fourth place. Lynch was 10th and eighth in his two final races to take seventh overall.