An easing of conditions saw Ireland’s Finn Lynch (National Yacht Club) regain some of his better form on the third day of French Olympic Sailing Week and the conclusion of the qualifying series.
The Carlow sailor was rewarded with a place in the Gold fleet for the next two days though his score is unlikely to see him reach Saturday’s medal race final.
A disqualification for early-starting in Wednesday’s delayed opening race had seemed set to scupper his Gold fleet chances as he match-raced the leading boats to win the race. He discovered afterwards that he had incurred the maximum points penalty which he then used the single discard to drop.
In contrast to the opening two days when Mistral winds gusted to Near Gale force, the light winds of Day 3 proved easier for Lynch to manage with his wrist injury that he has been carrying for the past month.
“He’s made Gold fleet and there are still four races so everything is open but the Black Flag makes it very difficult as there’s only one discard,” commented Vasilij Zbogar, Irish Sailing’s Laser Coach. “We going to treat this regatta as a training event and focus on the areas that we need to improve on.”
Fleet racing for Gold, Silver and Bronze divisions is scheduled for the next two days with light easterly breezes predicted.
