SailingMark Mansfield (42) has the ability to win a sailing medal but has so far failed to deliver in the past three Olympics. Mansfield admits he may not be one of the favourites in his 17-boat fleet but if he and Royal Cork clubmate Killian Collins (26) can get off to a good start today in the Star event that will be half the battle at the Agios Kosmos venue.
Sweden's Freddie Loof has been identified by Mansfield as the main concern but as the entries look more like a who's who of Americas Cup yachting its hard to call who will be the first to break. Mansfield has experience on his side but the keelboat fleet has become arguably even hotter since Sydney. Loof and the British Finn 2000 gold medallist, Ian Percy, are included as is America's Paul Cayard.
Yesterday the Irish Admiral's Cup skipper said he was chilled out, and team management confirmed there has been no sign of jitters before what Mansfield calls the "psychological regatta". Significantly - unlike Sydney - he has the coach of his choice, Maurice O'Connell, by his side and he knows Ireland's remaining medal hope rests with him and Collins.
Looking for a top 10, to beat ninth in Sydney, is also the task of Malahide's David Burrows when the final Finn race begins this morning.
Britain's Finn leader Ben Ainslie is assured of gold or silver today while yesterday his team-mates Shirley Robinson, Sarah Ayton and Sarah Webb, in the women's Yngling keelboat, walked away with gold with a day to spare. A further six medals are likely to be added to Britain's haul today.
The Irish 49ers, Tom Fitzpatrick and Fraser Brown, continue to produce top-five displays. Following a third and a fourth they took a second yesterday to add to other teen results. The extended series of 16 races ends next Thursday.
With one race left, and without a top-10 result, Baltimore's Maria Coleman lies 20th after scoring 19th and 13th yesterday. Rory Fitzpatrick finished 11th in the Laser fleet and moves from 34th to 31st overall.
