A surprise result for many from the first round of competition.

“After the three heats yesterday, the first round was completed here with Bora Kozanoglu wining, ahead of Antoine in a tight race to the finish.

At 2 o’clock the wind stopped doing 360’s and quickly built to 13-20knots. Most of the guys were on their 7.8m sails, and their medium 105-115litre boards, up until the final when the wind backed off and most changed up to approx 8.6m.

I got fifth place in my first heat, so didn’t advance but felt fast on my 7.8 and 107, and am now looking forward to more racing.

Ross was sailing really well again today and was unlucky not to make the final after being taken out by Micah at the gybe in the semi.

Bjorn didn’t make the final either, which was a surprise considering the speed he had in Italy, it looked like he was using too small a board and was struggling around the gybes. He even got a second chance in as his semi, which was cancelled the first time in what looked like a strange decision, but both times didn’t advance.

I think the speed gap has closed up a lot between Bjorn and the others, with a bunch of guys being as fast as him here.

Bora was really happy to win (obviously), he has always been quick in light winds and looked sharp in all his heats today. If he sails the same could definitely win more rounds here.

Tomorrow the wind will hopefully do the same as today, but there is 80% cloud cover forecast for late afternoon so this could mess up the thermal. The wind was so gusty today, that I think in some heats you could have used a 7.0, 7.8, 8.6 and 9.4, and all three boards and been perfectly powered on all of them at some point.”

Check page two for Dan’s report from day one…