SAILING: PRESSURE IS set to intensify on Peter O'Leary and David Burrows in the Star class as they begin their fourth day of racing at the Perth 2011 ISAF Sailing World Championships off Fremantle today.

The pair were disqualified under the Black Flag rule for early starting in their second race yesterday which saw them forced to count a 33rd place from Monday. They lie 14th overall in the 41-boat fleet and 11th by nation; the top 11 nations by Saturday’s final race will qualify for London 2012.

“It was a really important day in the regatta as it’s just past the halfway stage,” Burrows said last night. “We sailed a really good race and actually had a fourth position in that race and would have been top-five overall. We’re really gutted.”

The crew reckon they have got to grips with the tricky weather conditions and are sailing fast.

“All we can do is press the reset button and forget about it because it’s not going to help you tomorrow by dwelling on it,” he said.

Meanwhile, the 49er skiff crew of Ryan Seaton and Matt McGovern are within the qualification criteria, lying 15th overall in their class after six races.

Frontal conditions across all five courses off Fremantle were especially tricky on their course, but the Ballyholme pair were consistent with an eighth, 11th and 12th for yesterday while the latter result was dropped with the discard as their worst to date.

Both Star and 49er continue racing today while tomorrow is slated as a rest day. The top 10 boats from each class will sail a medal race final on Saturday for the Star and Sunday for the 49er.

However, Irish team management stress the goal for Perth is London 2012 qualification rather than medal race or podium results.