Paris 2024: Irish sailing pair retain second position

Robert Dickson and Sean Waddilove kept their Olympic podium goal on track at Marseille on Tuesday when the pair retained their second overall place standing in the fleet series after nine races.

The Dublin crew had earlier been handed a setback on Monday night when the Spanish team protested them, alleging Dickson and Waddliove had impeded them at a course mark.

The jury decided against the Irish boat and disqualified them from Monday's last race.

However, Tuesday's next three races saw Dickson and Waddilove put the disqualification behind them and focus on the tricky wind conditions that most of the 20-strong field were also grappling with.

The Irish pair had a fourth place, followed by 13th and then ninth, enough to keep them holding second place overall, though the points spread with the other boats is closing.

Other contenders had mixed results, most notably the New Zealanders who dropped from first place to third overall.

"You just deal what you have at the moment in time and if we go the right way, we go the right way, but if you didn't get something right you just have to remind yourself that no one's getting everything right today," said Waddilove after racing ended.

Spain's Diego Botin le Chever Florian Trittel Paul have now taken over in first place overall and opened up a 10-point lead on the Irish crew.

Wednesday will feature another three races to conclude the fleet series, with the top 10 boats contesting a short medal race final on Thursday.

This last race carries double-points, but the leading boats after Wednesday's 12th race are likely to be the hot favourites.