The opening day for the racers proved to be another mixed day in Sotavento as the wind died just before the originally scheduled start at midday, causing a delay of several hours until it returned with a breeze of 8-15 knots. After the first races finished, the wind died again and it looked like that was it for the day, but the wind returned and provided the best racing conditions of the day with around 20 knots of breeze. At the end of the first day, Marion Mortefon and Daniele Benedetti lead the event leaderboard.
Perfect first day for Marion Mortefon
Marion Mortefon produced a near-perfect first day, with the former two-time world champion causing a sensation with a superb hat-trick before finishing second in the fourth elimination - which currently counts as her scratch result. It looked as if she had a bit more speed up her sleeve if needed. The 32-year-old ends the day with a clear lead, as she currently has a perfect score of 2.1 points.
Justine Lemeteyer is currently Mortefon's closest rival with 7.7 points and you could see how much it meant to her that she managed to secure a win in the final elimination of the day to keep herself in the running. The reigning runner-up started strongly with a solid second place, but then had to contend with a fifth and an eleventh place and found herself in trouble.
Reigning world champion Blanca Alabau was extremely consistent in the first four eliminations with one second and three third places, putting her just 0.3 points behind Lemeteyer. In the fourth elimination, Alabau had a tough battle with Mortefon for second place, with the Spaniard pulling off a miraculous gybe through an almost tiny gap at the third buoy, but Mortefon still prevailed as she stepped on the gas and caught Alabau.
Benedetti in very good form, Michele Becker solidly in the top six
Daniele Benedetti ended last season with his first World Tour podium finish in Japan, and he got off to such a good start today that the Italian topped the leaderboard at the end of day one. Benedetti was in good form all the way: after opening the day with an excellent third place, he followed it up with a win in the second elimination, which means he leads the leaderboard by 5.3 points.
Noah Vinther may have only made his debut on the World Tour last year, but the 20-year-old has quickly adapted to life on Tour, after finishing an impressive third and sixth today, he now sits second overall after the two eliminations.
Amado Vrieswijk completes the current top three after the first two races. In the first winner's final, Vrieswijk fought an intense battle with Matteo Iachino, in which the lead changed hands several times. The runner-up from Bonaire, who has won the last two events on the World Tour, was also involved in a tussle at the first mark in the second elimination, which ultimately led to his elimination. Vrieswijk was still able to win the B final to limit the damage.
The German Michele Becker is the only rider, alongside Benedetti and Vinther, to have qualified 100 per cent for the top eight on the first day and is currently tied on points with Jordy Vonk in sixth place. He proved his consistency on a day that was a very turbulent one for many other riders.
Foil slalom day two in the livestream
The wind forecast for today looks better. The skippers' meeting has already been completed. We continue at 12:00 at 17-21 knots.
