Busy Annalise Murphy

Irish Laser Radial star to go MOD70 racing

Ireland's Annalise Murphy, who came so so close to medalling at London 2012 after she dominated the early stage of the Laser Radial event, is to have a busy few days. 

Tomorrow Murphy is to sail with Sidney Gavignet and his team aboard Oman Sail - Musandam as part of the MOD70 European Tour. This is to celebrate the 19th anniversary of the Round Ireland speed record which was achieved by the late Steve Fossett on board the trimaran Lakota with Brian Thompson who is competing aboard the Omani MOD70. Also sailing tomorrow are former Irish Olympic sailor Cathy McAleavey and Con Murphy who were also part of the Lakota crew in 1993 and are parents of Annalise.

Annalise Murphy has also been supporting 10 of her fellow Univserity College Dublin students as they launched the team that will represent Ireland at the 2012 Student Yachting World Cup to be held in La Rochelle starting on 27 October. The UCD students earned the right to represent Ireland having won the Irish Student Yachting National Championships in Dun Laoghaire in March.

Annalise first attended UCD four years ago but subsequently put her degree on hold for three years to focus on her Olympic campaign. She has returned to UCD this week and was delighted to attend the launch and offer her university peers some words of encouragement. She remarked: “I’m great friends with the guys on the team from either sailing or my first year in UCD. They’re a really strong team and have a really good chance of winning at the World Cup. I wish them the best of luck“.