The Irish Olympic Sailing team start competing in Australia at two separate World Championships next week.

The 49er World Championships

First off are the 49er World Championships in Geelong, Victoria. Ireland will be represented by two teams, Olympian Ryan Seaton (Ballyholme Yacht Club) and Seafra Guilfoyle (Royal Cork Yacht Club), and Robert Dickson (Howth Yacht Club) and Sean Waddilove (Skerries Sailing Club). Racing starts on Monday 10 February and concludes 15 February.

Hosted by the Royal Geelong Yacht Club, the 49er World Championships will see 77 boats compete from 26 countries.

The ILCA Laser World Championships

The following day, Tuesday 11 February will see the start of the Laser men’s races at the ILCA Laser World Championships, taking place in Melbourne (Sandringham Yacht Club). Competing are Olympian and Carlow native Finn Lynch (National Yacht Club), Liam Glynn (Ballyholme Yacht Club) and Ewan McMahon (Howth Yacht Club). There are 131 competitors from 45 countries.

A Mix of Youth & Experience

Both 49er and Laser classes have a mix of youth and experience. In the 49er two-time Olympic veteran Ryan Seaton will be hoping to regain some of the form that saw him make the medal race final in the 2016 Olympic Games. He now sails with Seafra Guilfoyle. Hot on their heels are the U23 Bronze medallists Robert Dickson and Sean Waddilove. They are still learning the ropes on the senior circuit but had an impressive World Championships at the end of last year, making Gold fleet.

In the Laser, Olympian Finn Lynch is competing alongside Liam Glynn, and Ewan McMahon who is relatively new to the senior circuit. This is only Ewan’s second World Championships and he will be hoping to repeat his impressive Gold Fleet performance at his debut Worlds.

Laser Radial Women compete for Ireland’s spot at the Olympics

With Ireland having secured a boat in the Laser Radial at the Tokyo Olympics this summer, four Irish women now begin their battle for that spot. The women’s races at the ILCA Laser World Championships start a week after the men on 23 February. This is the first event of three to decide who will represent Ireland (the other two being the Trofeo Princesa Sofia in Palma, March, and the Hyeres Regatta, France in April).

In the mix is Olympic silver medallist Annalise Murphy (National Yacht Club) fresh from her silver medal at Sail Melbourne in January, Aoife Hopkins (Howth Yacht Club), Aisling Keller (Lough Derg Yacht Club) and Eve McMahon (Howth Yacht Club) who won the U17 Gold Medal at Sail Melbourne.

111 competitors will compete from 41 countries.

Olympic Silver Medallist Annalise Murphy has shown she has lost none of her spark in Laser Radial racing by taking second overall in the women’s division in the Laser Radials in the major Sail Melbourne 2020 regatta which has concluded on Port Phillip Bay, a venue which served up some extremes of conditions to test both competitors and race organisers alike

Despite light winds and just one race on the final day when two had been planned, Murphy’s scoreline of 4, 11, 5, 2, 1, 2, 2 and (24) showed an underlying performance curve shaping up in the right direction, though at the end she was six-point astern of winner Merit Bouwmeester of The Netherlands. But then Bouwmeester was a leading contender for Rolex Woman Woman World Sailor of the Year thanks to her constant devotion and all-beating success in international Laser Radial racing. Aoife Hopkins was the only other Irish helm in the Gold Fleet, she placed 24th overall.

Reflecting on this important stage of her progression towards contention for Ireland’s already-secured Women’s Laser Radial place at the Tokyo Olympics in July, Murphy has spoken of her sheer enjoyment in racing a boat she loves among top competitors, many of whom are longtime friends. The Irish campaign in Melbourne involving four helms has been helped by home and local support, and Annalise is effusive in her thanks to her many supporters and sponsors in Ireland, and also to Ken and Colettte Clotworthy who provided her with a home-from-home in Melbourne.

Annalise Murphy's heavy air prowess is to the fore at Sail Melbourne this week where the Rio Olympic silver medalist is enjoying her second regatta since her return to the Radial for a Tokyo 2020 bid.

The National Yacht Club's Murphy won the one and only race today and moved up into fifth place overall and third-ranked female.

Despite a huge storm front battering Port Phillip in the early afternoon, most classes were able to complete a full slate of racing on day three of the 2020 Sail Melbourne International Regatta today.

The thick squall carried a sheet of small hailstones and hit the bay just as most of the racing was wrapping up with the Laser, Laser Radial and Laser 4.7s the only fleets restricted to one race. Two days remain in most of the fleets with only the Tasar fleet deciding the winners today.

Rio Olympic champion Marit Bouwmeester continues to lead the female rankings after an eighth-place today with Italy’s Rio Olympian Silvia Zennaro following in second after posting a second.

“It was a nice day, but it took a bit long to get started. I think it took them an hour and 15 minutes to get the guys on the way, and then even the 4.7s had a general recall so it was a long day on the water for only one race and that was a shame. But it was good and it’s nice to be here and get some racing in,” Bouwmeester said.

Ireland's three other competitors in Melbourne are Aoife Hopkins 22nd, Aisling Keller 39 and Eve McMahon 56. Results are here

Rio Olympic silver medallist Annalise Murphy marked her return to the Laser Radial with some reliable performances at the Australian National Championships in Melbourne this week. Her scoresheet included a race win as David O'Brien reports in this morning's Irish Times Sailing column here.

Next up for four Irish sailors, including Murphy, in the only Irish boat qualified so far for Tokyo 2020, is an Olympic trial series starting in March.

Much more in the Irish Times here.

Rio Silver Medalist Annalise Murphy is recording some encouraging results at the Australian Laser National Championships this weekend.

In one of her first major regattas since returning to the Laser last September, in a bid for the Irish Tokyo slot, the National Yacht club star is the top Irish woman from four contesting the championships at the Sandringham Yacht Club in Melbourne.

Murphy has counted a race win but also a black flag penalty to be placed 19th overall so far in the championships that have featured strong and light winds and some 'chilly' conditions.

The Men's and Women's Laser Radial classes are sailing together, split into Yellow and Purple fleets.

With the Australian selection for Tokyo 2020 still to be decided, Queenslander Mara Stransky struck an early blow with two wins in Purple fleet. Yumiko Tombe of Japan was second and Marie Burrue (FRA) was third in the first race. All three were pleased to have beaten Rio 2016 gold medallist, Marit Bouwmeester, who finished fifth overall and fourth woman.

Murphy's rivals for the Tokyo berth (that will be decided in selection trials later this year) are all sailing in the gold fleet and currently placed as follows: Aoife Hopkins 32nd, Aisling Keller 37th and Eve McMahon 60th.

The championships were subject to a protest by a competitor under 'Air quality' but the complaint was dismissed.

Results here

Annalise Murphy faces a three-way trial for Irish selection before she can race for gold at Tokyo 2020.  Ireland's Olympic Silver Medallist confirmed her return to the Laser Radial class tonight with 300 days to go to the Olympic Regatta. 

The widely expected decision follows last week's announcement that she had quit her 49erFX campaign with Katie Tingle.

Murphy’s return to the class will meet domestic competition from Aoife Hopkins and Aisling Keller who have already qualified Ireland for a place in the Radial discipline as described by Irish Times Sailing Correspondent David O'Brien here.

The three female solo sailors will race in an open trial using a number of international regattas to determine which candidate is nominated to represent the nation in Tokyo.

"I've already been sailing the Radial and feel fresh in the boat and I'm really excited to be back"

The do-or-die series will start in the Spring of 2020 and will use the combined scores from each of three European regattas; Palma in March, the World Cup in Genoa in April and Hyeres Regatta in late April to decide the nomination.

Murphy acknowledged the challenge ahead saying "with trials starting early next year there is a lot of work to get through, however, I've already been sailing the Radial and feel fresh in the boat and I'm really excited to be back"

Irish Sailing Head Coach Rory Fitzpatrick added “Having coached Annalise up to the Rio Olympics it makes her transition into the Laser Radial squad pretty easy. Having Annalise back in the class will raise the standard for everyone”.

Olympic Silver medalist Annalise Murphy is expected to return to the Laser Radial dinghy immediately after abandoning hopes of a final qualification chance in the 49erfX dinghy she has been campaigning with Katie Tingle for Tokyo 2020.

After a 'hugely challenging' fourteen months for Murphy and Tingle in the 49erFX class, it was decided after the summer that their 'Olympic medal goal' was no longer realistic, and the campaign has now come to an end.

While Murphy's plans have ended in the 49erFX, all is not lost for Irish Skiff fans, however, who can be certain that Royal Irish sailor Saskia Tidey of Dun Laoghaire will make the British team for Tokyo having won a Bronze medal in September's Pre-Olympics.

Annalise Murphy, a two time Olympian (finishing fourth and second respectively), reflected on the summer performances and in 'consultation with stakeholders' decided against continuing in the 49erFX. Katie Tingle, who has given '100% to the campaign' understands Annalise’s viewpoint but is nevertheless disappointed that the campaign is ending. Commenting on the situation Katie Tingle said “of course I’m disappointed. I’ve had a roller coaster fourteen months having jumped straight in at the deep end of high-performance sport. It’s been incredible seeing how hard everyone works for their goal and the support that goes around it, I’ll miss my teammates and all the support staff.”

Annalise Murphy and Katie Tingle in training on Dublin Bay Photo: Afloat

After a long period of training that was prefaced by injury in September 2018 when Tingle broke her arm in training on Dublin Bay, the duo first raced in April 2019 at the World Cup in Genoa and immediately admitted a steep learning curve, finishing in the silver fleet. A month later they retired from two races at the Europeans Championships in Weymouth. There appeared to be some progress in June at Kiel Week but by August and a trip to Tokyo for the pre-Olympics, and more mid-fleet results, it appears the writing was on the wall.

"I guess the World Cup in Japan was a bit of a wakeup call for me"

In a statement released this afternoon, Irish Sailing team managers say 'Annalise and Katie are lifelong friends and the decision was not made lightly'.

Murphy said “I guess the World Cup in Japan was a bit of a wakeup call for me, I was unable to see a medal in less than twelve months and that was always the goal. Katie has been incredibly understanding in what is clearly a difficult situation. I’ve learned so much from her over the last fourteen months and am glad our friendship has grown from this shared experience.”

The statement says Murphy is now going to take some time to consider her next steps. With the Laser Radial qualified for an Irish place in the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, it would seem very likely that she will be back on the water soon.

Irish Sailing Performance Director James O’Callaghan commented, “the Irish Sailing 49erFX project has benefitted the whole team, to have people as positive as Annalise and Katie in the programme has inspired the other teams. We now have a second FX campaign in its infancy so their legacy will continue. Katie took the opportunity to explore her potential to follow her dream, she made the most of the chance and I hope can look back fondly on the experience.”

A five and a three scored in today's 49erFX races at Kiel Week, Germany represents a significant performance improvement for Annalise Murphy and Katie Tingle who had been languishing in 41st place from 53 after day one.

The result moves the pair –who are four regattas into a 2020 Olympic campaign – up a dozen places overnight and into the top thirty overall in 29th.

The National Yacht Club and Royal Cork Yacht Club combination are using Kiel as part of their overall bid for Tokyo Olympic qualification later this year.

Results are here

Annalise Murphy and Katie Tingle are 41st from a fleet of 53 after the first three 49erFX races of Kiel Week regatta, Germany yesterday.

The National Yacht Club and Royal Cork Yacht Club combination scored 17, 20 and 18 in their opening rounds of the seven race series. Participation this week is part of their overall bid for Olympic qualification later this year.

Reigning World Champions, Annemiek Bekkering and Annette Duetz of the Netherlands hold the lead with Swedes holding second and third places in the 49erFX fleet.

Vilma Bobeck and Malin Tengström are about to contest the 49erFX Junior World Championships in Norway yet are proving they are world-class performers at the senior level, currently second in Kiel ahead of their teammates Klara Wester and Rebecca Netzler. As if that wasn’t enough Swedish dominance, Julia Gross and Hanna Klinga are in fifth place overall after a windy first day on the water.

Results are here

Annalise Murphy and Katie Tingle compete in the 49erFX dinghy at the Kieler Woche regatta in Kiel, starting this Wednesday 26th June. It will be their third major international regatta in a bid for Tokyo 2020 qualification later this year.

A baptism of fire left the Dublin Cork duo with a 'steep learning curve' after a World Cup debut in Genoa in April, the pair also finished in the silver fleet at the European Championships in May.

Kiel, therefore, will be a gauge of the duo's progress over the past six weeks in preparation for the bigger goal of the Olympic qualifiers in Auckland, New Zealand at the end of November.

Kieler Woche, one of the world’s biggest sailing events, attracts more than three million visitors each year and is celebrating its 125th anniversary this year.

Also entered for Kiel Week is Annalise's Team Rio 2016 teammate Saskia Tidey of the Royal Irish Yacht Club who is now sailing for Team GB. Tidey launched a crowdfunding campaign at the weekend, as Afloat reported here, in a bid to take her and Scottish helmswoman Charlotte Dobson to Olympic Glory in Tokyo. 

The 49er FX is a two-handed high-performance women’s skiff (sailing dinghy).