Dempsey lies second after day one of World Championships

OLYMPIC bronze medallist Nick Dempsey lies second after day one of the RS:X World Windsurfing Championships in Weymouth.

IMPRESSIVE START: Nick Dempsey lies second after a flying start to the World Championships in Weymouth

The 29-year-old, who finished an agonising fourth at the Beijing Olympics last summer, picked up a first and a second place from his two races and sits behind leader Przemyslaw Miarcynski of Poland.

Miarczynski, ranked third in the world, adapted best to the howling winds off the south coast and led from start to finish in his opening race of the championships.

But Dempsey, who took bronze at Athens 2004, was more than happy with his performance on home waters.

"It's a good start," said Dempsey. "I just sailed really well today - I feel I'm sailing better than I've ever sailed and I feel more prepared than I I‘ve ever been, but there's still a long way to go yet!"

Frenchman Julien Bontemps, the Beijing Olympic silver medallist, is just behind Dempsey in third place, on equal points with New Zealander Jon Paul Tobin.

In the women's fleet, three-time European Champion Marina Alabau, who finished fourth at the Beijing Olympic Games, was over the moon with her first days' performance. 

She held on to claim both race wins while her rivals in the fleet battled to stay on their boards in the building and gusting breeze.

"I am super happy with winning my races today," said Alabau. "I'm super happy the Olympics is going to be here.

"It's flat water which is really good for me - when it is windy with big waves it is not so good for me, so I know that when it is flat water I can do well."

Italian sailor Flavia Tartaglini is in second overall, Marine Rambaud of France is third while Great Britain's Bryony Shaw currently lies in 22nd after a difficult first day. 

Great Britain's 17-year-old RS:X youth world champion Izzy Hamilton is on equal points with Shaw, in 23rd overall.