Annalise Murphy has dropped to third place overall in the women’s Laser Radial class after battling challenging conditions in Race 7 and 8.
The Dún Laoghaire sailor had started the fourth day of sailing in first place overall.
However, a torrid time in the first of today’s races - Race 7 - saw her finish 18th – her lowest placed finish in Rio so far - before rallying in Race 8 to finish 12th.
It wasn’t a great result by the Dubliner’s standards at the Games so far, but she is still well in contention ahead of Monday’ medal race. Nonetheless, she’ll still need to improve in tomorrow’s two races.
As has been the story of sailing at Rio so far, the day’s events had been delayed by more than two hours as wind conditions and heavy swells played havoc with the Games’ sailing schedule.
When Race 7 did eventually begin, Murphy suffered from a poor start as she was bustled out on the starboard lay line as the core of the fleet to her left enjoyed a strong upwind to pull away on the first mark.
The harder than usual conditions was hitting Murphy hard and left her in a very challenging 25th position.
Things didn’t much improve as she rounded the second marker, but by mark 4 she began to gain some places and moved into 20th position before rallying hard to finish 18th.
The big swell and shifty conditions continued in Race 8 and, in contrast to the earlier race, Murphy started well, tracking well on the left of the fleet.
She rounded the first marker in 9th and remained there for much of the race, before dropping back to 11th on the fourth after some strong sailing from Australia’s Ashley Stoddart.
Finishing at a time of 54:13, Murphy had to settle for 12th, but the Dubliner will know that every point counts at the stage.
Now third in the overall standings, she sits behind Denmark’s Anne-Marie Rindom and Marit Bouwmeester of the Netherlands who have moved into 1st and 2nd respectively.
Rindom has a net points total of 30; Bouwmeester is on 40 with Murphy on 44.
In the Men's 49er class, Ryan Seaton and Matt McGovern finished a fantastic second in Race 2, following a epic battle with New Zealand and Germany.
Added to their 14th place in Race 1 that means the pair will be in fifth place overall tonight.
In the 49er FX, Andrea Brewster and Saskia Tidey finished in eight position in Race 1 and third in Race 2.
They will start day two in real medal contention, sitting in fifth place overall.
In the Men's Laser class, Finn Lynch finished 33rd and 32nd in today's two races.
The Carlow man is in 29th place overall.
