Finn Lynch makes progress as Ireland chase Olympic spot

Rio 2016 Olympian Finn Lynch has moved up the rankings in the men's single-handed dinghy at the Allianz Sailing World Championships in The Hague today after a solid day's performance.

The Carlow sailor lies in 14th place by nation, inside the top 16 needed to qualify Ireland for the Paris 2024 games a year from now.

Lynch had been in second place in the first race of the day but clipped the first mark, obliging him to take a penalty turn which cost him valuable places. However, he recovered ground to finish a strong seventh place.

In the race that followed, strong tidal current complicated the 40-minute race and he placed 17th.

In the overall standings, he moved up from 33rd to 22nd overnight and will look to consolidate his place in the final day on Friday.

The top ten finishers in his ILCA7 class will go forward to a medal race finale on Sunday and while this would have been a goal for Lynch at this event, securing a nation place for the Marseilles Olympic regatta this year is as important.

Ireland's second men's single-handed entry in the gold fleet is heading for a top half finish in the 80-boat division as Howth's Ewan McMahon had a mixed day. He is 43rd overall.