#swchyeres – Irish Olympic skiff sailors Ryan Seaton and Matt McGovern from Belfast lough won silver medals at the ISAF World Cup climax in France this afternoon. After sailing a most consistent series all week the Irish pair finished 2nd, 3rd, and 7th in today's final three medal races to be second overall putting them eight points clear of Australia's Nathan Outteridge and Iain Jensen. Peter Burling and Blair Tuke from New Zealand took the Gold. A total of 80 of the world's top 49er class sailors were competing at the event in Hyeres.
Burling and Tuke (NZL) made it two ISAF Sailing World Cup regatta victories in a row with another dominant display.
The Kiwis sealed the deal in the opening race of three stadium style races as they took the first bullet and Burling was delighted to pick up his second consecutive World Cup gold, "I'm pretty stoked to take the win. We had a pretty big lead but it was mathematically possible to lose it so we made sure we did the job in the first race and had a bit of fun in the last two.
"It was really great to get out in the lead in the first race and just be able to sail away.
"We're definitely really happy with how we backed up Palma with another win."
Seaton and Matthew McGovern and the Irish team were all smiles after racing. "It was a great week and obviously the result tops it all off," said McGovern.
"What a great week of sailing in Hyères. It's been six days of brilliant breeze and sunshine. It couldn't be any better in every respect."
Seaton and McGovern finished a disappointing 35th in Mallorca just weeks ago and hit back hard to show the fleet what they are all about, "We came here and we knew we had to hit the ground running. We couldn't have two bad weeks in a row so it was full on, 'put the engines on' and go as fast around the course and keep the mistakes to a minimum."
Dun Laoghaire's Annalise Murphy raced in the Laser Radial medal race and finished seventh overall but it ISAF Sailing World Cup Melbourne winner Tatiana Drozdovskaya (BLR) entered the Medal Race with a three point lead over Evi Van Acker (BEL).
Van Acker relinquished her lead the day prior having sailed the wrong course and counted a high score that handed Drozdovskaya the advantage going into the last day.
Van Acker went out with intent and sailed a superb race that she lead from off to take the bullet and gold as she explained, "I just had a strategy that I discussed with my coach and everything just worked out.
"I was the only one starting at the pin end. Everybody else was middle of the line or boat end so I was happy I was down there so could have a good start.
"I played the left side more than the others and I was in front from the beginning. Once you're sailing in front it's no so hard, if you're at the back it's quite difficult."
Hyères is one of Van Acker's favourite venues as she was thrilled to take the regatta victory, "Hyeres is always the toughest World Cup to win. I've managed to win it only once before and now it's really nice to win it for a second time because it's a difficult venue.
"It's my first win in a very long time so I'm really happy. I had a lot of fans on the water, all the team went out and it was great fun. I'm really happy that I could make up from my stupid mistake yesterday."
Marit Bouwmeester (NED) finished the Medal Race in second which was not enough to move in to silver medal position as Drozdovskaya held on to second podium spot with a third.
