Friday’s racing marked the end of Irish sailing star Annalise Murphy’s third Olympic Games following two light wind races on Sagami Bay in the women’s single-handed class.
Despite her recovery of form on Thursday when she scored a race win and a second-place, Friday saw her finish the ten race series in 18th place overall, outside the top ten for Sunday’s medal race final.
Murphy noted after the race to RTÉ that she “can’t see [herself] going to another Olympics”, possibly ending a fruitful period for Irish Sailing.
“Over two decades, Annalise has made a massive impact on our sport and is certainly Ireland’s greatest Olympic sailor ever,” said James O’Callaghan, Performance Director with Irish Sailing.
“She has been a European champion and competed in three Olympic Games, won races in each and won a Silver medal. Her legacy lives on in the dozens of female and male athletes inspired by her performances.”
The Irish squad gathered at the dinghy park in Enoshima Harbor where there was an informal tribute gathering held to honour the National Yacht Club sailor.
Ireland still has one boat competing with the final three races of the Men’s 49er skiff event scheduled for Saturday afternoon.
Robert Dickson (Howth YC) and Sean Waddilove had two top ten results and an 18th on Friday and lie 14th overall.
Saturday’s three races are crucial to their prospects of achieving a place in Monday’s medal race final.
“We have moved on and are completely focussed on the remainder of the regatta,” said O’Callaghan, after the sailors’ times were disqualified yesterday after they used illegal equipment.
“When we fully debrief what has occurred with the equipment issue plus every aspect of our preparations, we will strengthen our processes to ensure this sort of thing cannot happen again.”
Team management will also be engaging with World Sailing and the International 49er Class Association to provide feedback about equipment rules and their application of them by measurers and International Juries in future.
