Displaying items by tag: Finn Lynch
Solid Performance Sees NYC's Finn Lynch Lying 14th at ILCA7/Laser Euros in France
Rio 2016 Olympian Finn Lynch of the National Yacht Club is knocking on the door of the top ten overall at the ILCA 7/Laser European Championships in Hyères, France.
The 2021 world Silver medallist is 14th overall, with just six points between the Dun Laoghaire solo ace and the podium in the 169-boat fleet.
Lynch discarded 13th place today in strong wind Mistral conditions and posted his best result of fourth place in the four races sailed so far.
There is one more day of qualifying races before the gold fleet finals on Saturday.
"just six points between the Dun Laoghaire solo ace and the podium"
"I had one counter and a 13, which wasn't a great race," said Lynch. "I'm still in the game, which is the goal for these long, six-day regattas".
"You just need to be within 15-20 points of the leader, and then you're still in the game," he said.
Meanwhile, Lynch's main rival for Paris 2024, Ewan McMahon (Howth YC), had an improved form for the second day when he placed ninth in the breezy opening race, followed by a 20th. His overall standing at 66th leaves him trailing Gold fleet qualification on Friday with a 20-point gap to overcome.
McMahon's brother Jamie is lying 51st ((10, 26), and Royal St. George's Tom O'Higgins is 135th.
The reigning 2021 EurILCA Senior European champion Michael Beckett GBR (3-2-1-1) showed a terrific performance today and took the ILCA 7’s leadership with 4 points after scoring two bullets.
The 2020 Senior European champion Elliot Hanson GBR (8-3-2-2) is second with 7. The third place overall is for Jonatan Vadnai HUN (2-4-9-3) with 9.
Kaarle Tapper FIN (7-DNF58-1-2), Hermann Tomasgaard NOR (17-1-3-6) and the overnight leader Duko Bos NED (1-3-19-6) are tied in 10 points on places 4th to 6th, respectively.
12 points are sharing now the recent 2022 World champion Jean Baptiste Bernaz FRA, the 2019 Senior European champion Lorenzo Chiavarini ITA and the 2018 Senior European champion Pavlos Kontides CYP.
Filip Jurisic CRO completes the provisional European’s Top 10 with 13 points.
Friday is the last day of the qualifying series, with the first warning signal at 12:00.
The forecast is for even stronger winds.
Six days of races are scheduled in total, with the last ones coming on Monday 21st, to decide the new 2022 EurILCA Senior European champions.
Results are downloadable below
It's 'Game On' For Top Ten Finn Lynch at ILCA 7/Laser Euros at Hyeres
One year after his silver medal at the ILCA 7/Laser Worlds in Barcelona, Finn Lynch continues his top form on day one of the 2022 European Championships in Hyeres, France.
Two top six places for the National Yacht Club sailor puts the Rio 2016 rep in a strong position for the final major event of the season in the build-up to Paris 2024.
The 2022 EurILCA Senior European Championships & Open European Trophy started on Wednesday at Cercle d’Organisation du Yachting de Compétition Hyèrois (COYCH) in Hyeres, France.
More than 350 sailors from 65 countries enjoyed great sailing conditions today for the first two races, with winds varying from 10 to 14 knots in the beginning and 18 to 22 knots at the end. of the second race.
The ILCA 7 is the largest fleet at the Senior Europeans, with 169 sailors racing in three fleets on course A.
Lynch of the National Yacht Club lies in the top ten with two more days of qualifying races remaining to decide the Gold fleet split.
Conditions built steadily during the short day afloat to a brisk offshore wind that brought mixed results for the three other Irish ILCA 7 sailors competing.
Howth's Jamie McMahon scored an eleventh place in the second race of the day, which with his earlier 36th place, moved him to 63rd overall. Older brother Ewan 30th in race one did not finish race two.
Royal St. George's Tom Higgins is lying 133rd.
Dutch sailor Duko Bos leads
After the first two races, it’s the Dutch sailor Duko Bos who is leading the competition with 4 points (1-3), followed by the reigning 2021 Senior European champion Michael Beckett GBR (3-2) and Pavlos Kontides CYP (2-3) with 5. Jonatan Vadnai HUN (2-4) is also close with 6.
Niels Broekhuizen NED (1-8), the reigning 2022 World champion Jean Baptiste Bernaz FRA (1-10), Tonci Stipanovic CRO (9-2), Elliot Hanson GBR (8-3), Finn Lynch IRL (6-5) and Lorenzo Chiavarini ITA (5-6) complete the provisional European Top 10.
George Gautrey NZL, Ryan Lo SIN and Arthit Romanyk THA are ranked 6th, 8th and 11th in the overall European Trophy’s ranking.
Race Day 1 – ILCA 7 Provisional Results are downloadable below
Finn Lynch and Eve McMahon Eye European ILCA/Laser Honours at Hyeres
Both Finn Lynch of Dun Laoghaire and Eve McMahon of Howth will be keen to capitalise on their outstanding seasons at the final ILCA event of the year when they compete at the EURILCA Senior European Championships in the ILCA 6 and 7 (formerly Laser and Laser Radial) in Hyères in France
The two front runners are among six Irish competing on the Cote D'Azur that includes McMahon's two brothers, Ewan and Jamie.
There are 177 in the ILCA 7 men's fleet from 44 countries and another 111 in the women's ILCA 6 fleet from 38 countries.
World Sailing Youth World Champion Rocco Wright is a fourth Howth sailor competing. He competes in the ILCA 6 (Laser Radial) Men's fleet along with Tom Higgins (Royal St George YC) of Dun Laoghaire in the ILCA 7.
As regular Afloat readers know, Finn Lynch reached second in the world in the World Sailing rankings, due to his silver medal at the ILCA7 World Championship in Barcelona in November 2021, which he then followed with a consistent set of 2022 results, including fourth place at the Princess Sofia Regatta in Palma in April and his sixth place at the 2022 ILCA 7 Men's World Championship in Mexico in May.
Hyères regatta will be Eve McMahon's last competition of the year after a hat-trick of gold medals at the ILCA6 (Laser Radial) Youth European Championships in Greece, the World Sailing Youth World Championships in the Netherlands, the ILCA6 (Laser Radial) Youth World Championships in Texas, and finishing with silver at the U21 ILCA Youth World Championships in Portugal in August. More recently, she won the silver fleet at the Texas-based ILCA 6 Women's World Championships.
Amongst the competitors are Olympic medallists and world champions Agata Barwinska POL, Michael Beckett GBR, Lorenzo Brando Chiavarini ITA, Marit Bouwmeester NED, Elliot Hanson GBR, Pavlos Kontides CYP, Zac Littlewood AUS, Emma Plasschaert BEL, Tonci Stipanovic CRO, Hermann Tomasgaard NOR and Matthew Wearn AUS.
Racing begins on Wednesday, 16 November and concludes with the medal races next Monday, 21 November.
The National Yacht Club's Finn Lynch's superb results have been reflected in the latest World Rankings, issued this week by World Sailing.
Lynch is now ranked second in the world – up from 20th – and by far the highest ranking of an Irish Men's Laser Sailor.
The move up the rankings is an excellent boost to Irish sailing prospects for Paris 2024. It comes on the heels of Finn's second at the ILCA6 2021 World Championships in Barcelona in November – and sixth place at the 2022 World Championships in Mexico in May.
"I am thrilled with this move up the rankings. It shows that the programme we are following is moving strongly in the right direction," he said in a National Yacht Club interview.
Rankings are here
'Frustrated' Finn Lynch Finishes Sixth Overall in Mexico, Ireland's Second Ever Top Ten Result at a Laser Worlds
Ten points off a medal, Finn Lynch leaves the Laser/ILCA 7 World in Mexico disappointed not to be on the podium, but it nevertheless confirms the National Yacht Club ace as one of the World's top ten Laser sailors as the battle for a single place in Paris 2024 intensifies.
After his week-long domination at the front of the 126-boat championship, Jean Baptiste Bernaz of France emerged with Gold. However, his lead narrowed in the penultimate race after a disqualification for early starting.
Lynch went into the final day in fifth (he was as high as fourth overall last Wednesday) but overhauling either Croatia's Tonci Stipanovic or 2017 Laser World Champion Pavlos Kontides proved to be too big an ask. Two solid races on the final day were needed to reach the podium and sit with his silver medal from the last world championships in November 2021.
Lynch had a 21st place in the penultimate race, which he couldn't discard, having previously used his discard through gear failure (a downhaul rope breakage in the last qualified on Wednesday that he may well rue).
He wasn't the only one to drop back as New Zealander Thomas Saunders who was second had to be satisfied with the leather medal after the final shake-up.
The first race of the day brought a little drama when the event leader Jean-Baptiste Bernaz (FRA) got a Black flag, and Pavlos Kontides (CYP) finished fifth, which lifted him to a second overall place, with just 12 points behind Jean-Baptiste. By finishing 14th place, Thomas Saunders (NZL) fell to the third position, only five points ahead of Tonci Stipanovic (CRO).
According to the Notice of Race, the last possible Warning signal at 1500 made it impossible to race committee to give to the Silver fleet a second race, so they finished the championship with 11 races sailed total.
However, the Gold fleet still managed to get their last race started in time and Michael Beckett (GBR) made his best race during the regatta by winning that race. Filip Jurisic (CRO) finished second, which moved him up to the 3rd overall position; Joel Rodriquez Perez (ESP) finished third.
Jean-Baptiste Bernaz (FRA) by finishing 7th in the last race secured his position he held almost the whole regatta and became the new ILCA 7 World Champion.
For the first time, the ILCA 7 Men's World Champion title goes to France!
As the top Irish contender, Lynch is attempting to rebuild after his disappointment of failing to qualify for Tokyo 2020. All credit to him that he is on the right tack at the first opportunity.
A catalogue of quality results achieved since last November shows the depth of the ambition of a new and improved Irish number one.
Since the Laser/ILCA 7 dinghy made its Olympic debut 25 years ago, Ireland has sought a top 30 result at the annual World Championships. Now it has two top tens and a silver medal thanks to Lynch's exploits.
Lynch's own best Worlds performance before Barcelona 2021 and Mexico this week was 31, scored in Melbourne in 2020, a position he also got in Aarhus, Denmark, in 2018. 31st is also a result achieved by his predecessor James Espey in Oman in 2013.
It's not popular to air it in some quarters, but despite 25 years of trying, and until 2021, Ireland had never finished in the top 30 of the World Championships never mind the top ten. You have to go right back to the 'eighties to find any higher Irish results.
In 1983 Lyttle finished 19th and Bill O'Hara 13th, a record, albeit achieved in pre-Olympic times, that stood until Lynch changed all that in blistering fashion.
A short break now follows for Lynch before he returns to competition in The Netherlands for the Allianz Regatta and preparation for the 2023 world championships, which will be the first qualification opportunity for Paris 2024.
Final top ten
1. Jean-Baptiste Bernaz, FRA, 51 points
2. Pavlos Kontides, CYP, 68
3. Filip Jurisic. CRO, 75
4. Thomas Saunders, NZL, 77
5. Tonci Stipanovic, CRO, 81
6. Finn Lynch, IRL, 85
7. Elliot Hanson, GBR, 88
8. Philipp Buhl, GER, 99
9. Jonatan Vadnai, HUN, 101
10. Stefano Peschiera , PER, 105
Fifth Overall Finn Lynch is Sailing to Retain His Silver Medal on Last Day of Laser Worlds in Mexico
Just six points separate Finn Lynch and the successful defence of his 2021 Laser/ILCA World Championships silver medal going into the final two races of the 2022 championships in Vallarta, Mexico today.
Despite a 24th scored in race three of gold fleet racing, the Irishman only dropped back one place to be fifth overall thanks to an eighth (his sixth top ten result of the series) scored yesterday evening.
When Lynch won silver in Barcelona at the last world championships in November 2021, it was Ireland's best-ever men's Laser result by a country mile, so the prospect of a repeat performance six months later is a tantalizing prospect for Irish sailing fans today.
While overall leader Jean-Baptiste Bernaz has a 20-point cushion, only six points separate second from fifth in what promises to be a sensational World championship climax in the men's single-handed Olympic dinghy class.
Third and fourth places are held by Olympic medalists who are tied on 51 points.
The National Yacht Club sailor, on 56 points, couldn't be in for a bigger fight. Croatia's Tonci Stipanovic in fourth is a former runner-up and double Olympic silver medalist and the 2017 Laser World Champion Pavlos Kontides (also an Olympic silver medalist from London 2012) from Cyrpus lies third.
Lynch must outsail both if he wants to dispossess New Zealand's Thomas Saunders of his 50 point silver medal position in today's final two races.
Full results here
Laser Ace Finn Lynch Moves Up to Fourth Overall at ILCA 7 Laser World Championships in Mexico
A stunning performance from Finn Lynch on Banderas Bay has put the National Yacht Club solo ace into fourth overall – and crucially – tied on points for third place after the first day of Gold Fleet racing at the ILCA 7/Laser World Championships in Mexico.
Lynch rebounded from gear failure that dropped him to 11th overall on Wednesday to leapfrog a massive seven places by scoring 7 and 2 in the first two of six gold fleet races in the 63-boat fleet on Thursday.
Now on 48 points, the performance keeps Lynch's World silver medal defence alive. The 26-year-old Rio Olympian is just five points away from Hungary's Jonatan Vadnai, who sits in second overall.
Conditions were lighter for the first time in the championship on Wednesday, with strong current affecting the fleet. Three Black flag starts were needed to get the first race of the day off with nine sailors disqualified for early starting.
"Finn feels quite good, he's been in this position before so he knows how to deal with it," said Lynch's coach Vasilij Zbogar. "There are good sailors in front, good sailors behind - anything can happen - but a good opening to the finals.
"Slightly less wind than previously so that suits Finn for sure. There's still everything to play for but it's nice to be in the game."
The championship is led by France's Jean-Baptiste Bernaz, who has seven top four scores to have a 26-point margin over second place. Just six points separate second to fifth overall.
After eight races sailed, with seven to count, four more will be sailed to complete a full schedule by Saturday.
The top 5 after eight races sailed:
1. Jean-Baptiste Bernaz (FRA) - 17 points
2. Jonatan Vadnai (HUN) - 43
3. Thomas Saunders (NZL) - 48
4. Finn Lynch, (IRL) - 48
5. Tonci Stipanovic (CRO) - 49
Full results here
Gear Failure in Final Qualification Race Drops Finn Lynch to 11th Overall at Mexico Laser Worlds
Finn Lynch's defence of his ILCA 7/Laser World Championships silver medal suffered a gear failure setback yesterday at Vallarta, Mexico when the National Yacht Club ace posted a 'Did not Compete' (DNC) in his final qualification race.
Until yesterday, the consistent performance of the 26-year-old Carlow sailor kept him inside the top ten with an impressive scoresheet of 10, 2, 4, 13 and 10 in the 126-boat fleet.
With such scores, Lynch eased into the Gold fleet finals after three days of competition but will, however, rue the missed final qualification race.
It was a day of drama for Lynch who was lying eighth in the first race of the day but 'made contact' with another boat and ended tenth. In the second race, in ideal 12-18 knots winds, his downhaul rope broke ruling him out of the race.
Coach Vasilij Zbogar said "his downhaul rope broke but fortunately it was the last race and it is discarded so it's acceptable - the points are close and there's a lot in play in the finals."
Downhaul ropes have huge loads in Laser rigs and are fitted as a double block 8:1 purchase requiring replacement every four-to-five events, according to top campaigners.
Now at the halfway stage of the regatta and in 11th place going into the final six races, Lynch will be aiming to make up the 27 point gap between leader Jean-Baptiste Bernaz of France on 12 points and his own 39-point tally.
One race discard applies after the qualification round while a second discard will be available in the final round.
Bernaz with (19, 3, 2, 3, 2, 2 places) has maintained his overall lead in the regatta, with former World Champion Kontides moving up several places to fifth with a strong performance on Wednesday.
The championships continue with the final series where a maximum of six races will be sailed over the next three days. The top half of the fleet will sail in the Gold fleet while the balance, including injury-hit Ewan McMahon of Howth, are in the Silver fleet.
McMahon, who has battled his ankle problems since last week's pre-worlds training, has decided not to continue. Zbogar said "Ewan isn't able to perform because of his injury, it doesn't make any sense to continue to sail and make things worse," said Zbogar. "There's too much pain and too many anti-inflammatories and painkillers needed."
The top 5 starting their Final series:
1. Jean-Baptiste Bernaz (FRA) - 12 points
2. Elliot Hanson (GBR) - 15
3. Jonatan Vadnai (HUN) - 18
4. Daniel Whiteley (GBR) - 19
5. Pavlos Kontides (CYP) - 20
11. Finn Lynch, (IRL) - 39
Consistent Finn Lynch Sailing In Top Ten of ILCA 7/Laser Worlds, Ankle Problem for Ewan McMahon Continues
The National Yacht Club's Finn Lynch kept the defence of his 2021 silver medal very much alive when he added a fourth place on Tuesday to be in the top ten overall of the ILCA7/Laser World Championships in Mexico.
Lying eighth overall with one day of the qualification round remaining, consistent Lynch had a 13th place in the second race of the day, his worst of the series so far at Puerto Vallarta.
Unfortunately, Howth Yacht Club's Ewan McMahon's 'problem with his ankles' continues to limit his ability to hike his dinghy. He finished 45th and 41st places leaving him outside of contention for Gold fleet.
French sailor Jean-Baptiste Bernaz currently leads the championship overall while Tokyo 2020 Gold medallist Matt Wearn from Australia sailed ashore prior to Monday's race and is out of the competition due to illness.
Results are here
The Laser or ILCA7 is the Men's single-handed event for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. Qualification for the Marseille regatta in just over two years' time will be at next year's combined Sailing World Championships in The Netherlands with another opportunity at the 2024 worlds.
The National Yacht Club's Finn Lynch is off to a great start to his silver medal defence at the ILCA7/Laser World Championships in Puerto Vallarta.
Lynch posted is lying sixth overall on the Banderas Bay after the first two qualification races in typical sea breeze conditions.
The 26-year-old scored a tenth then second place in his flight in the 126-boat regatta and was placed sixth overall. They are scores the Carlow native will be keen to maintain as a good average, which is the key to gold fleet qualification on Wednesday in the week-long 12-race event.
The massive fleet is split into two “flights” for the first three days of the series which will then determine the Gold fleet cut, building towards Saturday's final day.
Ewan McMahon 'unwell'
Unfortunately, as Afloat previously reported, Ireland's second team member Ewan McMahon of Howth Yacht YC is reported as 'unwell'. Although he did sail, critically he is unable to hike in the 12-17 knot conditions, according to the team camp.
After a 32nd and 40th places for the day, McMahon lies in the bottom half of the fleet in 72nd place overall.
Overall, the rankings show Hungary's Jonatan Vadnai leading from Croatia's Tonci Stipanovic with Nik Aaron Willim of Germany in third.
Results are here
The ILCA7 is the Men's single-handed event for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. Qualification for the Marseille regatta in just over two years' time will be at next year's combined Sailing World Championships in The Netherlands with another opportunity at the 2024 worlds.