Top 10 finishes the most realistic goals

LIGHT WINDS once again played tricks on Olympic regatta organisers at Savannah yesterday as crews were left waiting for a steady airflow to begin racing. However, early this morning they managed to start, although just one of two scheduled races was sailed.

The Soling, Star, Finn and women's 470 sailors were hoping that a good breeze would remove much of the chance element to the racing which has been brought on by the flukey winds. Irish medal hopes have narrowed dramatically since the opening of the series last Monday and top 10 finishes are now the most realistic goals.

Yesterday's first result came before a race had even finished. The Soling crew of Marshall King, Dan O'Grady and Garrett Connolly were disqualified along with three other boats for premature starting (PMS). The penalty drops them to 16th overall with two scheduled races remaining. Going into the race, the trio were lying 12th overall and still within distance of the top six qualifying places for the match race final. The PMS will use up a valuable discard and will push qualification even further away.

Meanwhile, Mark Mansfield and David Burrows have pulled up from 15th overall to 12th and are within reach of a top result today if they can match yesterday's third place with similar or better for the final two races.

Finn sailor John Driscoll had another 24th place in his 30 boat class, matching his other discard and slips back to 25th overall. The women's 470 crew of Denise Lyttle and Louise Ann Cole had their best result to date and their first foray into the top 10 in their class, but still remain in 15th overall.

Back in action today for two further races, weather permitting, are the two best performing Irish boats. Aishling Bowman in the Europe fleet is fifth and must have very highly placed finishes to increase her overall placings before Wednesday's final. Mark Lyttle is currently 15th in the Laser but could easily pull into the top over the coming three races.