Despite an improvement in form for Dubliners Robert Dickson (Howth Yacht Club) and Seán Waddilove (Skerries Sailing Club) in the 49er skiff class at the 52nd Trofeo Princesa Sofia Mallorca on the Bay of Palma, there was no return to their winning form of Wednesday that might have reversed their final 20th place overall.
It means the pair does not make the top ten medal race on Saturday and are left with food for thought, such as improving their starts and looking for answers as to their lack of boat speed in light winds that troubled them on Thursday, before April's next World Cup event in Hyeres, close to Paris 2024 Olympic waters.
Isaac McHardie and William McKenzie
Isaac McHardie and William McKenzie (NZL) were the only 49er team to keep all three of the scores inside the top 10 today.
Their reward is to be wearers of the yellow bibs for Saturday’s Medal Race, although the other Kiwis who relinquish the leaders’ bibs - Logan Dunning Beck and Oscar Gunn - are only two points behind their teammates.
Effectively this means they will be going into the Medal Race level pegging. It’s a ‘who beats who’ scenario for the New Zealanders. However, breathing down their necks, just a point behind Beck and Gunn are another high-performing team from today’s racing. Tom Burton and Max Paul (AUS) scored a 3,11,1 to lift themselves into bronze medal position. Burton, Laser Olympic Champion from Rio 2016, has been working hard to make the shift into doublehanded skiff sailing, and this is a sign that his endeavours are beginning to bear fruit.