Eve McMahon moves into seventh at ILCA 6 World Championship after two runner-up finishes
Eve McMahon has moved into seventh overall at the ILCA 6 Women’s World Championship in Dún Laoghaire after producing two second-place finishes on a lively day of racing.
The Howth Yacht Club sailor climbed four places in the overall standings despite a difficult final race, with another discard coming into play tomorrow as she continues her push for a place in Saturday’s Medal Series.
A fresh and gusty south-westerly breeze produced challenging conditions on Dublin Bay, with winds of 15 to 20 knots and stronger gusts sweeping across the course.
Three races were completed as the breeze eased throughout the day, with McMahon making an excellent start to proceedings.
She finished second behind Denmark’s Anna Munch in the opening race, with the result going right to the line as the two sailors crossed almost together before the Dane edged ahead.
McMahon was again runner-up in the second race after she and Britain’s Daisy Collingridge broke clear of the fleet and established a commanding lead. Collingridge took the win, with McMahon following her home in second.
The final race proved far more difficult, however, as shifting winds and strengthening gusts caused major changes throughout the fleet.
McMahon found herself on the wrong side of the shifts and eventually finished 32nd.
“I had three very unpredictable races in some crazy conditions today,” McMahon said.
“The first two went well and I executed my plan really well, but in the third I just got swallowed up.
“It was that kind of day. Sometimes you get into the right shift and sometimes you don’t.”
Despite the setback in the final race, McMahon remains firmly in contention with the championship reaching its decisive stages.
“It’s not the scoreline I wanted, but it’s not over until it’s over,” she said.
“I’ll go out tomorrow, hopefully get two good results and then fight it out in the Medal Series on Saturday.”
The Rio Olympic silver medallist Annalise Murphy also enjoyed a significant rise up the Gold Fleet standings.
The National Yacht Club sailor recorded a best finish of 13th from her three races and climbed 11 places, moving from 32nd to 21st overall.
In the Silver Fleet, Sienna Wright of Howth Yacht Club remains at the top of the standings after recording fifth and fourth-place finishes.
Royal St George Yacht Club sailor Lucy Ives, meanwhile, posted a series of mid-fleet results as she continues to gain experience at her first senior World Championship.
Lighter conditions are forecast for the final day of Gold Fleet racing tomorrow, with the race committee aiming to complete two races.
The championship will conclude on Saturday, September 12, when the Medal Series will determine the final podium positions.