Giles Scott is aiming for a third win at the Finn Gold Cup ©Getty Images

Defending champion Giles Scott of Britain and home favourite Andrew Murdoch of New Zealand share the lead after the opening day of racing at the 2015 Finn Gold Cup in Takapuna, with the event acting as the second Olympic qualifier for the discipline.

Murdoch produced an excellent display to win the first of two races as the five-day event got underway, despite a brief delay caused by light winds, as his cautious approach paid dividends on the challenging course.

The Kiwi led around the top mark and held off competition from Uruguay’s Alejandro Foglia and Greece’s Ioannis Mitakis in the final approach to the line to claim the opening win of the day.

Sweden’s Björn Allansson dominated the second race as he led from start to finish, but the former world number one's struggles in the opener prevented him from finishing among the leading sailors on the day as he chases a Rio 2016 berth.

A seventh place finish enabled Murdoch to hold top spot on eight points after two races, along with Scott who claimed fifth and third place finishes.

“I think looking back on the season it's quite a big shock to be racing in such a large fleet again,” Scott said afterwards.

New Zealand's Andrew Murdoch won the opening race of the competition
New Zealand's Andrew Murdoch won the opening race of the competition ©Getty Images

“There is a huge amount of leverage out there from left to right, especially when you throw in conditions like we had early today with huge shifts, so it just opens up scope for big gains and huge losses.

“So I think you have to try and be as consistent with that as you can and a lot of people struggled with that, I think the winner will be the person who deals with that best.”

The 28-year-old is already assured of his place at Rio 2016 but could come under pressure from his team-mate Ed Wright who lies in third place, nine points off the leading duo.

Fourteen nations who have yet to claim an Olympic berth are set to battle for four places available at the Finn Gold Cup, which decides the world champion in the class and is due to conclude on November 29.



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