With four race wins from nine sailed so far, Annalise Murphy, Ireland’s only sailor qualified for Tokyo 2021, might have been expecting a better overall placing than a tenth at Kiel week in Germany this week.
However, the scoresheet speaks for itself and Murphy got off to a less than satisfactory start to the German warm-up event when she was disqualified in the opening race under the black flag premature starting rule. Unfortunately, the Irish ace then also counted a 33 and 22 in the following races in the 46-boat fleet.
Murphy made up for this opening blip though in subsequent racing with a storming day yesterday talking three bullets in races seven, eight and nine.
Such inconsistency, however, is not affecting her main rival for Gold in Tokyo 2021, with Rio Gold medalist Marit Boumeester of the Netherlands counting eight top ten results.
"It is the first regatta since the World Championship in February.” The Dutch Olympic star says she is not yet sure about her current form: “Kiel Week is the warm-up for the European Championship in October. I hope for a medal there, but of course, we are lacking in preparation.”
After Kiel, the Laser Radial fleet, including Murphy, will travel to Gdansk, Poland for more training and preparation before the European Championships starting on 6 October.
Results are here