The 2015 world and European champions had earlier managed eighth-place and sixth-place finishes and now sit at the summit of the standings ahead of The Netherlands’ Annemiek Bekkering and Annette Duetz, who fell back a few points and sit in second after a superb opening day.

The biggest movers of the day were the British pairing of Charlotte Dobson and Sophie Ainsworth, whose first, second and third-place finishes moved them to the top of a three-way tie for third.

New Zealand’s Peter Burling and Blair Tuke hold a 10-point lead in the 49er, despite closing out the day with a sixth-place finish.

Earlier finishes of first, third and first were enough to preserve the London 2012 silver medallists’ advantage.

Burling and Tuke edged out Denmark’s Jonas Warrer and Christian Peter Stephensen Lübeck, who find themselves in sixth spot overall, to take victory in the opening race of the day. 

"There has never been anyone as dominant in the 49er class as Burling and Tuke," said Warrer

"[Spain’s] Iker Martinez was great, [Britain’s] Chris Draper was great, [Australia’s] Nathan Outteridge was great, but these guys are crazy… we would have won the first race but they were racing."

Lübeck has only just switched over to the 49er class after finishing eighth at the 2016 Nacra World Championship.

"We had the same thing sort of in the Nacra 17, with the French team of Billy Besson and Marie Riou dominating for wins," he added.

"But this is different, this is crazy.

"With the French Nacra you could touch them, you could beat them sometimes…this is different."

World silver medallists Nico Delle Karth and Niko Resch of Austria had a productive day, scoring three third-place finishes and a 16th.

Great Britain’s John Pink and Stuart Bithell were also impressive as they registered only 17 points on the four-race day.

Racing is due to continue tomorrow with more qualifying.