Eve McMahon has moved into seventh place overall at the ILCA 6 Women’s World Championship in Dún Laoghaire after producing two second-place finishes on a strong day for the Irish Olympian.
Racing in fresh and gusty south-westerly conditions, with winds in the 15 to 20-knot range and stronger gusts sweeping across the course, McMahon delivered her best sustained racing of the Championship to climb four places in the overall standings.
She opened the day with second place behind Denmark’s Anna Munch in a race that went almost to the line, the pair crossing within moments of one another before the Dane was confirmed as the winner.
McMahon followed that with another runner-up finish in the second race, this time behind Britain’s Daisy Collingridge.
The pair had opened up a significant gap on the rest of the fleet, giving McMahon another valuable low score as she strengthened her position in the battle for a place in Saturday’s Medal Series.
Shifting winds and stronger gusts repeatedly changed the shape of the fleet in the third race of the day, with McMahon caught on the wrong side of the changes and eventually finishing 32nd.
“I had three very unpredictable races in some crazy conditions today,” she said afterwards.
“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.”
Looking ahead to the final day of Gold Fleet racing, McMahon remains very much in contention.
“It’s not the scoreline I wanted, but it’s not over until it’s over. I’ll go out tomorrow, hopefully get two good results and then fight it out in the Medal Series on Saturday.”
With another discard due to come into play on Friday, her move to seventh leaves her well placed to secure a place among the sailors who will contest the final Medal Series.
Rio 2016 Olympic silver medallist Annalise Murphy of the National Yacht Club also made progress.
Murphy recorded a best finish of 13th from the three Gold Fleet races and climbed 11 places in the overall standings, moving from 32nd to 21st.
In the Silver Fleet, Sienna Wright of Howth Yacht Club continues to lead after adding fifth- and fourth-place finishes, while Lucy Ives of host club Royal St George Yacht Club continued her first senior World Championship with another series of valuable races against international opposition.
Lighter conditions are forecast for Friday’s final Gold Fleet programme, with the Race Committee hoping to complete two races before the championship moves into its concluding Medal Series on Saturday, September 12.
Bringing one of the major international dinghy sailing championships to Dún Laoghaire provides a strong platform for the sport, the harbour and the supporting partners, with the 2026 event backed by Sport Ireland, Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council, XOCEAN, the Royal Marine Hotel and KPMG, alongside official apparel partner Rooster.
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Image Credit: Irish Sailing
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