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Daved Burrows (left) and Peter O'Leary finished 10th. ©INPHO/Morgan Treacy
London2012

Sailing wrap: Top ten finish for Star duo as Ireland prepares for Murphy race

Peter O’Leary and David Burrows bowed out of the games with the country’s best ever ‘Star’ class finish.

PETER O’LEARY AND and David Burrows have finished 10th in the medal race and 10th overall in the Star class at the London 2012.

Although not the results they had hoped for entering the games, it is still the best results Ireland has ever had in the Star class.

The pair were ninth overall beginning the medal race but due to their points on the leader board, they were not be in contention for a medal.

The Swedish duo of Loof and Salminen eventually took home gold. ISA Performance Director, James O’Callaghan remarked:

While it is the best result we have achieved in the Star class it is still disappointing. We came here hoping to be fighting for a medal.

“That plan has not worked out in a way we could have foreseen.”

In contention

On the 49er course, Ryan Seaton and Matt McGovern had their penultimate day of fleet racing.

The pair finished yesterday in 11th overall, just outside the top 10 for the first time in the competition.

The pressure was on them to perform well today ahead of tomorrow’s final two fleet races and medal race qualification. They did just that.

Conditions in Weymouth were the lightest they’ve been during the Games, with winds of just 7 knots at times.

Seaton and McGovern finished seventh in Race 12 and a 13th place finish in their next outing leaves them in 10th place overall with two more races and the ‘medal race’ to come. O’Callaghan commented:

Ryan and Matt are just one day away from achieving their Olympic goal; to sail in the medal race.

“There are only four points between them and 13th place so they really need two great results tomorrow to hold on to their position.”

All eyes on Annalise

Annalise Murphy, who has qualified for the Laser Radial medal race tomorrow, is on a rest day.

The top 10 sailors will be competing in the double points race which begins at 1pm tomorrow in Weymouth.

Murphy is currently in third place but only one point separates the top four sailors.

Ger Owens and Scott Flanigan are also in action, in the 470 class, and they will be hoping to advance from 25th position.

Sailing action starts at 12 noon in Weymouth. The Laser Radial medal race will be covered live on RTE 2.

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