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7:29 PM Wed 27 May 2009 GMT
Day one of the 2009 Delta Lloyd Regatta started in Holland in gusty conditions which led to reduced racing but it didn't stop the Australian Sailing Team's Tom Slingsby from leading the way in the Laser fleet.
Slingsby, the current World Champion revelled in the gusts of over 30 knots taking victory in the first race before fighting back from a capsize to finish second in race two. The fleet was sent to shore without the third race being run.
'Today I had two good races, it was cold and windy and probably 30 knots but all good for me,' said Slingsby.
'It was one of those days where you come in and it's freezing cold and you're very tired but in sailing terms it was a good day,' he said.
Australian Sailing Development Squad member Ashley Brunning had a strong Delta Lloyd Regatta debut, finishing in the top 15 with Tom Burton and Bun Gunther only managing to complete one race in the second Laser fleet before the postponement.
Earlier in the day the 49er fleet completed two of the three scheduled races with Euan McNicol and Sam Newton the best placed Australian crew in 14th, including an eighth in race two, ahead of the AST's Nathan Outteridge and Iain Jensen in 18th and Darren Bundock and Ben Austin in 19th.
For Bundock and Austin the conditions were the toughest they have sailed in together since pairing up earlier this year.
'It was a really challenging day out there and the first time that Bundy has sailed in wind like that,' said Austin.
'We had a few big capsizes but didn't break anything major and managed to finish both races which isn't too bad an outcome for the first day,' he said.
Australia's 470 men had a mixed day with ASDS crews of Sam Kivell and Will Ryan, and Shane Hughes and Felix Paterson finishing 20th and 38th respectively after two races. The AST's Mathew Belcher and Malcolm Page are in 40th after an OCS in race one but bounced back with a strong sixth in race two while Sydney brothers Alexander and Patrick Conway are 44th.
Due to the conditions the 470 women's fleet did not leave the shore with West Australians' Stacey Omay and Chelsea Hall keen to get racing on Thursday.
Australia's Women's Match Racing crew of Lucinda Whitty, Amanda Scrivenor and Nina Curtis made their ISAF World Cup debut with a solid day on the water, finishing with two wins and two losses.
The AST's sole RS:X entrant Jessica Crisp sits in 12th place after a 10th and 14th in the day's two races.
Conditions are expected to ease on Thursday with all crews hoping to get in the full complement of races.
by Craig Heydon
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Sailing
