Ireland's Ryan Seaton and Matt McGovern from Providence Team IRL will do battle tomorrow against the world’s most skilled 49er skiff sailors tomorrow after qualifying for the World Championship medal races.
The pair finished eightth overall from a fleet of 80 boats at the ISAF Sailing World Championships in Santander, Spain.
Their solid performance throughout the six-day regatta earned them 2016 Olympic qualification for their country as well as a place among the top 10 teams. They will now sail in final three medal races after which the 2014 champion will be crowned.
Today was the final day of competition for 49erFX relative newcomers Andrea Brewster & Saskia Tidey.
The duo, who only teamed up together late last year, wrapped up an intense event in 24th place out of 55. They were 13th nation, and just outside the top 10 which would have earned Ireland its fourth Olympic qualification place for sailing.
The next opportunity to qualify for the Rio Games will be at the 2015 World Championships.
ISA Performance Director James O’Callaghan commented “To have qualified for the top 25 Gold fleet earlier in the week was a massive achievement for the girls.
"If their progression continues at this rate they’ll be strong contenders to take one of the three places available at the Worlds next year“.
