Nick Thompson got the ISAF World Sailing Championships off to a fast start as he won the opening laser race of the regatta, but it was Lorenzo Chiavarini who ended day one as the top Brit.
After a foggy start to this first competition day and a short delay while the wind built, three-time World Championship medallist Thompson claimed victory in the opening race of the regatta.
But it was the newly-crowned under-21 world and European champion Chiavarini who ended the first day as the top British sailor in the men’s event, claiming a second and a 14th to sit 12th overall after the first two races.
It was a pleasing start for the 20-year-old, who only learned of his last-minute entry to these Championships two weeks ago.
“I came here with an open mind and just to enjoy, and that’s what I’ve done so far,” said Chiavarini of his initial World Championship experience.
“My speed was really good and that got me out of some difficult situations especially in the second race.
“I’m very pleased with how it’s going at the moment and how it’s panned out. Saturday is the last day of qualifying, so I need another two good races to hopefully enjoy some gold fleet racing. That would be a really big bonus for me this year.”
Meanwhile, world number two Thompson couldn’t quite match his perfect start in the second race of the day, finishing 18th in race two to end the day in 21st overall.
Thompson said: “In race two I got a good start again at the other end of the line, but didn’t quite get the wind right. I actually went back to the right again and I was out on the left.
“That didn’t work out too well, but I managed to get back to just inside the top 20 which is just about OK. Not what I wanted but not the end of the world.”
In the laser radial event Chloe Martin enjoyed the lighter breeze to open her World Championship campaign with a tenth and sixth to sit her in eighth place after the opening day.
“I think it was quite a good average day,” Martin said. “It was very tricky out there, with some weird tide lines going on so I wasn’t quite sure what the plan was for the first beat, and it was then quite hard to make gains for the rest of the race, but I’m quite happy.
“I’m looking forward to going out and doing some more racing. It’s an amazing opportunity to have so many boats in the fleet that are all pretty good quality.
“It would be good to get into gold fleet racing and have a little fight there. I’m really excited for what’s to come.”
And London Olympian Alison Young had a steady opening day with finishes of 13th and12th from her two races.
© Sportsbeat 2014