A bronze medal hangs in the balance for Maria Coleman this morning following a three-way tie for third overall after the penultimate day's racing saw a drop-off in the Baltimore sailor's speed in the strongest winds of the Portuguese regatta so far.
Although the Europe world dinghy title is still open, Holland's Caroline Brouer remains top of the leader board by seven points from Portugal's Joanna Pratas.
Although a clear third before yesterday's gruelling 20-knot Villamoura breezes, Coleman was disheartened that she had allowed two Spaniards, Helena Motilla and Neus Garraturon, to match her on 20 points.
"I had a poor day, really, a 11th, a 17th and a really bad one," Coleman said referring to a 30th placing that she will now have to count in this single discard regatta.
Clearly exhausted after nine days of intense competition, she explained that the root of her problem yesterday was a mainsail shape that was too deep.
The non-performance of her carbon mast that has brought such a speed bonus in medium airs did not appear to have much of a positive effect as wind speeds gusted to 25 knots.
She admitted that she was not relishing the prospect of fighting for her dream of a podium position if the same conditions prevail this morning. A cold front is approaching and the likelihood is that at least some of today's races will be heavy weather affairs.
In Denmark, a final race win for Mark Mansfield and Killian Collins at the Star European championships lifted their overall position from 24th to 17th overall at Arhaus.
Dun Laoghaire's Max Treacy and Anthony Shanks rounded off the regatta with a 15th place giving them 27th overall in the 51boat fleet.
Sweden's Frederick Loof and Magnus Liljedahl took the championship trophy some 12 points ahead of the leading Danes Christian Rasmussen and Peter Oersted.
Following the third day of racing in the Youth world championships in Britanny Irish hopes of a top 10 performance were raised by Peter O'Leary's win in the Laser single-hander, moving him to ninth overall.
