The outcome of the final Irish Olympic sailing selection trial for Paris 2024 remains finely balanced between two rivals after the first qualifying races in La Grande Motte in the South of France.
Robert Dickson and Sean Waddilove from Dublin's Howth Yacht Club and Skerries continue to hold the advantage after scoring 12,17, and 4 to be on 31 points and in 22nd after the first of three races sailed.
Crosshaven's Séafra Guilfoyle and Johnny Durcan from Royal Cork Yacht Club are on 41 points in 27th place having scored 20, 6, and 15
With the competition heating up in La Grande Motte, South of France, 68 international teams faced challenges in testing Mediterranean Sea conditions on the opening day.
To win a place with Team Ireland for the Paris 2024 Olympics, Guilfoyle and Durcan must beat the Dubliners by five places and finish within the top 20 at the Europeans this weekend.
Strong qualification results may yet determine this trial to complete Ireland's three-boat team for the Paris Olympic Regatta starting at the end of July.
Overall, James Peters and Fynn Sterritt, Britain’s Olympic hopefuls for Paris 2024, made a remarkable start after a disappointing stint at the earlier World Championships. Securing victories in races one and three, they are claiming the top spot in the yellow group of qualifying.
Meanwhile, newly teamed James Grummett and Rhos Hawes mirrored their compatriots' success, clinching wins in their first and last races and securing a ninth place in the second race.
Racing continues today.
Results are here