Fourth at London 2012, Annalise Murphy showed the depth of her Olympic ambition this week when she returned to competition in Florida, establishing a sizeable lead over two of the sailors that edged her out of medal contention three years ago.
By the halfway stage of the International Sailing Federation’s (ISAF) Miami Olympic classes regatta, the National Yacht Club (NYC) helmswoman produced a consistent scoresheet (2, 2, 5, 3, 3) to leave silver and bronze medallists Marit Bouwmeester of Holland and Evi Van Acker of Belgium in her wake.
Overall leader
The Irish woman was in sparkling form in the 20-knot conditions until a 36th scored on Wednesday afternoon in a flakey race six. The single drop did nothing to her overall score in the 79-boat fleet though, trailing overall leader Denmark’s Anne-Marie Rindom by just four points after six races sailed.
The Miami event represents the start of Rio Olympic Games qualification in earnest. While Ireland has already qualified in three classes, the Irish Sailing Association has yet to publish nomination criteria.
Murphy is part of a 12-strong Irish crew eyeing up 2016 prospects but looks like the only one in contention for medal places.
Murphy’s Dún Laoghaire club-mate, Finn Lynch has also risen to the Biscayne Bay challenge. Lying 33rd, the student leads Ireland’s 2012 rep James Espey by 10 places after seven in the 107-boat fleet.
In the 49er skiff, Northern Ireland duo Ryan Seaton and Matt McGovern lie 35 from 58 and in the women’s 49erfx, Dún Laoghaire trialists Andrea Brewster and Saskia Tidey lie 18 from 40.
The Clipper Round the World Race is seeking an Irish crew to get on board the Derry-Londonderry-Doire 70-footer for the 2015/’16 edition of the 40,000-mile race.
The race, which gives paying amateur crew members the chance to sail around the world, is holding interviews at in Dún Laoghaire, Cork, Galway, Belfast and Derry.
