Irish sailors Robert Dickson and Sean Waddilove have put their best foot forward at the 49er World Championship in Lanzarote. The duo is on the brink of qualifying for Gold fleet after the end of the nine-race qualification round on Thursday. However, they eagerly await the outcome of protest hearings tonight that could potentially push them out of the top 25.
Meanwhile, Crosshaven's Séafra Guilfoyle and Johnny Durcan missed the cut for Gold fleet, finishing in 27th place overall. The Cork crew came agonizingly close to making it to the top 25, placing second in the opening race of the day. Guilfoyle later admitted that their success in the race was due to a lucky wind-shift in their favor.
The world championships will continue with 25 boats competing in the Gold fleet to determine the top ten boats for Sunday's medal race final. Guilfoyle and Durcan will compete in the 46-strong Silver fleet.
The Irish sailors are in a trials series with Dickson and Waddilove to decide which of the two boats will represent Ireland at the Paris 2024 Olympics in the men's skiff event. Two more events will take place over the next eight weeks.
Speaking about the outcome, Guilfoyle said, "Obviously, it's very disappointing that we're not in Gold fleet, and that'll take a bit of time to process. We definitely have to keep fighting for the top 30 because our funding depends on it. With another nine races to go, we can do it."
The International Jury hearings are expected to conclude shortly, and the Irish sailors will soon know their fate.