Silver lining for Cork pair at French Olympic Sailing Week

Seáfra Guilfoyle with Johnny Durcan (IRL) in the 54th Semaine Olympique Française - Toulon Provence Méditerranée © David Branigan / Oceansport

After the disappointment of missing out on Gold fleet at French Olympic Sailing Week, Seáfra Guilfoyle with Johnny Durcan (Royal Cork Yacht Club) had a good outing in the 49er Silver fleet today in Hyerés.

The Crosshaven pair ended Day 4 of the regatta with happy faces after scoring a second and a seventh in the weather foreshortened day in the 49er skiff event.

Their second race result was all the more creditable as they were squeezed off the starting-line at 30 seconds to go before quickly behind the starters to get clear of a pile-up of boats struggling in the light conditions.

By the first mark rounding, they were in 20th place but working their way up the fleet. Seventh was a solid outcome for them which boosted their placing to fifth in Silver fleet with more race scheduled for Friday.

Ireland's second 49er crew of Robert Dickson (Howth Yacht Club) with Sean Waddilove (Skerries Sailing Club) withdrew from the event to concentrate on the Howth sailor's recovery from a viral infection that affected their performance early on in the event.

Meanwhile, in the ILCA 7 Men's single-handed event Finn Lynch (National Yacht Club) also had a solid day in Gold fleet to improve his overnight position from 44th to 36th overall.

The Carlow sailor had a weighty 28th in the opening race of the day but was in more familiar territory in the afternoon with an eleventh place. Two more races are scheduled for Friday to conclude fleet racing but Lynch will be unable to win a place in Saturday's medal race final.

Find full results here.