Alec Cutler and crew of Hedgehog have placed themselves in early contention at the second regatta of the 2015 Audi-Tron Sailing Series in Porto Venere, Italy.

Provisional results following yesterday’s opening day of racing showed the Royal Bermuda Yacht Club skipper second in the 18-boat Melges 32 fleet, a point adrift of leader Dalton DeVos and crew of Delta. In third are Giangiacomo Serena di Lapigio and crew of G-SPOT.

Cutler coped reasonably well in the challenging 14 knot breezes, posting finishes of fifth, first and sixth to stake an early claim for a spot on the podium.

“Three tough races down,” the past J-22 world champion said. “Our best race was our last one; fighting back from 17th at the first mark, staying engaged and scratching out a sixth.

“Today we had the best all around boat speed we’ve had in some time, and that got us out of trouble.”

Among Hedgehog’s multinational crew is Mike Wolfs who is an Olympic medal-winner and Melges 24 world champion.

Calling the shots is Swiss sailor Chris Rast who has replaced America’s Cup winner and European, US National and Melges 32 world champion Cameron Appleton as the team’s tactician.

Cutler’s best showing arrived in the second race, which saw Hedgehog come from behind to claim line honours after making huge gains on the final downwind run to the finish.

DeVos, the youngest skipper in the fleet, won the first race after taking immediate charge after an initial general recall while the third race went to Edoardo Lupi-Massimo Pessina and crew of Torpyone.

Also competing in Port Venere is Italian skipper Alessandro Rombelli and crew of Stig who won top honours at last month’s opening regatta of the 2015 Audi-Tron Sailing Series in Loano, Italy.

Rombelli is again joined on board by countryman Francesco Bruni, the 2013 Argo Group Gold Cup winner and America’s Cup tactician.

Cutler is keen to build on his promising start when racing resumes today.

“The weather looks light and unstable for the next two days,” he said. “So, we’ll be sailing each race as if it is last of the regatta.”