The Devoti One fleet headed out on to Lake Garda for two windward leeward races today, the first day of this brand new class's first ever international regatta.

The Melges 24 fleet started first, into a light to medium breeze blowing from the northern end of the lake.

Then the 12 Devoti Ones started, with the group that went to the right by the cliffs making massive ground on those who sailed left or up the middle.

Adrian Brunton from the UK, all 102kg of him, moved into the lead at the bottom mark ahead of Silvio Santoni and he proved uncatchable, even when the wind dropped to almost zero at one point. The breeze filled in again and the race was shortened at the top of the second beat, with Brunton winning.

A few minutes later, the breeze turned through 180 degrees as the new wind filled in from the south. The race committee set a new start line at the very northern end of the lake. Another Brit, Andy Rice, started at the pin end and was first to reach the cliffs on the left. He took a narrow lead around the windward mark and did a straight set towards the cliffs. Other boats behind gybed into the middle of the lake and found more breeze.

Now there were three boats vying for the lead, but Fabio Toccoli, thinking there was another lap to be sailed, dropped his gennaker, leaving Rice clear to cross the line first.

Tomorrow the fleet will contest two more races, with the final race counting for triple points, meaning that at this stage anyone can win.