ISAF Sailing World Championships & 2016 Olympic Qualifiers Update

Both of Ireland's 49er teams pulled out the necessary results today at the ISAF Sailing World Championships to stay in contention for Olympic qualification. Andrea Brewster & Saskia Tidey qualified for the female 49erFX Gold fleet while their teammates - Ryan Seaton & Matt McGovern from Providence Team IRL - moved up to 6th overall in the 49er Gold fleet.

Today was the final day of the qualifying series for the 55 boats in the 49erFX fleet. The Irish team; Andrea Brewster & Saskia Tidey had a 5th and a 6th which boosted them significantly from 35th overnight to 17th. They make Gold fleet along with the other top 24 teams. The ISA Development sailors will now fight it out with the 14 other nations in Gold to try and secure one of the 10 coveted spots available.

Commenting after racing Andrea Brewster remarked "We needed to have two really good races today and we nailed it". "It was really gusty but we found all our skills were really good on the course. Everything we'd been practising really paid off and we're so thrilled with today" followed Saskia Tidey.

Ryan Seaton & Matt McGovern last night finished the qualifying series in 12th position, making the cut for the 49er Gold fleet. In order to earn Ireland a place at the 2016 Games, the Northern Irish pair must also finish the regatta within the top 10 nations. A total of 88 teams from 33 nations are competing in the men's skiff class so every result counts.

Sailing in 20 knots this afternoon, the boys warmed up with an 11th in Race 6. From there they kept on an upward trajectory with a 9th in Race 7 followed by a 6th in Race 8 and finally a 2nd in Race 9. These solid results were enough to move them up three places in the leader board to 6th overall.

ISA Performance Director James O'Callaghan stated "A really solid day from the skiff teams today. Both are now really well positioned going into Gold and the fight to secure nation qualification".