Sailing: Meech starts strongly in Spain

Tauranga Yacht and Boat Club sailors featured prominently on the opening day of the ISAF Sailing World Cup held in challenging conditions off Palma de Mallorca, Spain.

Sam Meech, who turns 22 on Thursday, was the star performer for the New Zealand team, placing second in his two races in the Laser fleet. He lies third equal in what is the largest fleet in Palma comprising around 110 sailors split into two fleets for qualifying racing.

Thomas Saunders started solidly with a sixth and a 14th in his two qualifying races in the Laser fleet but his brother Jason, in the Nacra 17 mixed multihull, and Meech's younger sister Molley, in the 49erFX, were unable to start because of the strong winds and waves.

Mount Maunganui resident Andrew Murdoch, competing in the 66-boat-strong Finn fleet, relished the gusty conditions of 20-30 knots with massive waves.

The convert from the Laser class sailed away with a ninth and an 18th finish to hold 12th overall.

"We had 25 knots plus and large waves for the last race today ... certainly learning a few things on the job," said Murdoch.

"This is my first international event so a great chance to line up with the rest of the world and see what needs working on.

"I've been here for a few days training and it's great to get racing under way."

New Zealand's new pairing in the Men's 470 of 2012 Olympian helm Paul Snow-Hansen with crew Daniel Willcox sailed strongly on day one for an 11th and a third to finish seventh at the end of day one.

"It was great to line up with some of the best in the world and see how we are going," said Snow-Hansen.

"Race two brought in some awesome breeze, on the upper limit of our racing. We sailed a nice race, nailing the start and keeping upright.

"We had some hairy moments out there but who didn't. We now have two more days of qualifications racing before we are split into gold and silver fleets."

The six-day regatta is the European opener for the ISAF Sailing World Cup Series and a major event for the world's Olympic sailors, and some minor innovations to racing's format and scoring are being trialled by organisers.