Big breeze and massive wind shifts of day two of the 49er European Championship delivered plenty of drama in La Grande Motte, the South of France as the gap narrowed between the two Irish rivals who are using this event as the final Olympic trial for the single Irish Paris 2024 berth this July.
Robert Dickson and Sean Waddilove from Dublin's Howth Yacht Club and Skerries continue to lead in the Euros but now only by two points on 42 in 17th overall with Crosshaven's Séafra Guilfoyle and Johnny Durcan from Royal Cork Yacht Club on 44 points in 19th place after six races sailed.
As regular Afloat readers know, 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 in La Grande Motte.
Three more races in wildly shifty conditions of up to 40 degrees variation have done nothing to dislodge Great Britain from the top two spots in the men's 49er. It's just the order of those British crews has changed with new pairing of James Grummett and Rhos Hawes now moving to the top and displacing James Peters and Fynn Sterritt to second overall.
Thursday is indeed forecast for a lighter breeze as the regatta reaches the final day of qualifying before the 49er men get regrouped for the gold fleet finals and Ireland produces its final member of its Paris Olympic sailing team.