The opening day of racing at the 2011 Perth ISAF Sailing World Championships dawned sunny and almost windless, before picking up to deliver some fabulous racing across the fleets.

After the first day of Finn Gold Cup, Ben Ainslie took an early lead after winning both his heats with ease. In the first race Ainslie led from start to finish, while in the second race in stronger winds he trailed current world champion Ed Wright (GBR), rounding the top mark in fifth. However the Olympic champion took the lead from Wright on the downwind to build a useful lead into the finish.

In the blue fleet, the 2004 Olympic silver medalist Rafa Trujillo (ESP) led the first race from start to finish while Pieter-Jan Postma (NED), put a poor race behind him to lead all the way and take the second race. Trujillo rounded off a great day with a third place, to end the day in second overall behind Ainslie. A second and a fifth for the 2008 Silver medalist Zach Railey (USA) leaves him in third overall.

Two Finns sailing downwind

Britain's Ed Wright leads Australia's Brendan Casey - photo Robert Deaves/IFA



As host nation of the 2012 Olympics, Great Britain automatically receives an entry to each Olympic sailing event. While Ben Ainslie is already selected in the Finn class, other British teams are still looking for selection.

In the 470 class, where three British teams have been vying for selection, the opening day four races and four different race winners in light and shifty conditions – an early indicator of the depth of talent in the 470 fleet.

Luke Patience and Stuart Bithell were leading the British contingent, lying second overall after the first day. Bithell commented, “It was a good day for day one of the Worlds. In everyone’s mind the aim on day one in these major competitions is not to make any mistakes and come away clean and certainly not pick up a discard and we have effectively done that and come away with some low points. We can’t be much happier than that really.”

On their approach to the Championship, Patience surmised, “We are open minded in that we haven’t thrown all our eggs in one basket in terms of equipment or body weight and Stuart and I are more than happy to win and race in any conditions.”