PRESS RELEASE: Wednesday, July 11, 2007 ISAF WORLD SAILING CHAMPIONSHIPS: Cascais, Portugal, July 3 to 13, 2007.
Tenth Competition Day: July 12
470
Ger Owens and Phil Lawton produced an excellent series of races in silver fleet in the 470 class over the past two days to ensure the have secured the 21 st and final Olympic qualifying spot for Ireland.
Analysis of the final results from today's races confirms that none of the other nations can now over take the Irish boat for the 21 st crucial Olympic sport.
The final 470 races take place tomorrow.
PRESS RELEASE: Wednesday, July 11, 2007 ISAF WORLD SAILING CHAMPIONSHIPS: Cascais, Portugal, July 3 to 13, 2007.
Tenth Competition Day: July 12
470 crew close in on Olympic qualification, final classification decided Friday
Day 10 saw excellent performances from Gerard Owens and Phil Lawton in the 470 to take control of the final qualification spot for the 2008 Olympics and, with one race to go on Friday, are close to securing Ireland's second Olympic berth.
470
The 470 class divided into gold, silver and bronze fleet on Tuesday. The Irish boat captained by Athens Olympian Gerard Owens with crew Phil Lawton finished just outside gold fleet.
However, there was one Olympic qualifying place available in silver fleet. In response to that incentive Ger Owens and Phil Lawton produced an excellent series of races in silver fleet, with 6 th and 4th places in races 8 and 9 today following 5th and 10th places yesterday. This leaves them 41st overall and crucially, in the 21 st nation place, the last Olympic spot available in Cascais.
With one final race to go, to take place on Friday, the Irish boat is well placed to secure another Olympic qualifying place following the excellent performances of Tim Goodbody in the Finn competition.
The Mac Colgáin brothers, Tuathal and Dualtach, from the ISA Academy, lie in 102nd position after 11 races.
Note: There will be 30 nations represented in the 470 class at the 2008 Olympic regatta, one of the most popular and competitive of all Olympic sailing classes. 21 of those nation places will be decided at these world championships. As only 20 nations are represented in the 38 boat gold fleet, one qualifying position is available to the silver fleet. 9 nations, including Ireland, had the incentive of Olympic qualification as the sailed the final races in silver fleet.
49er
Russell and Matt McGovern are representing Ireland in the 49er class. They qualified to compete in silver fleet, finishing 8 th today. This follows scores of 14 and 18 yesterday and leaves them 41st overall.
James O'Callaghan, ISA Performance Director: "Ger and Phil have been excellent since they realised Olympic qualification was still in their grasp. They were disappointed not to qualify for the gold fleet in 470 but have responded in excellent fashion to the challenge of securing the Olympic place. That is their target for the week, they have remained focused on that goal and are close to securing it for Ireland. Two Olympic places was the target for the week, Tim Goodbody secured the Finn place and we are very optimistic that the 470 boat will complete the job."
