Cecilia Wollmann made a fine start on day one of the ISAF Youth Sailing World Championships in Langkawi, Malaysia, yesterday.

After two races provisional results showed the Bermuda Red Bull Youth America’s Cup hopeful sitting in twelfth spot among the 49-strong Laser Radial girls fleet.

Wollmann, who qualified for the event at this summer’s Sail Canada Youth National Championships in Kingston, Ontario, coped well in challenging conditions, placing sixteenth in the first race and seventh in the second.

She was encouraged by her results, especially since she was able to hold her own in winds that exceeded 25 knots that caught the fleet by surprise.

“It was much windier then anyone expected,” Wollmann said.

“We had very strong winds of 20-plus knots.

“Despite liking lighter winds better, I managed to score a 16 and a seven, putting me in twelfth overall.”

The Laser fleet was the first to launch and raced the farthest offshore in the challenging conditions.

“It is forecasted for similar winds tomorrow [today], with hopefully lighter wind days to come,” Wollmann added.

Magdalena Kwasna, of Poland, topped the Laser Radial girls leaderboard after two races followed by Maria Erdi, of Hungary, and Hannah Anderssohn of Germany.

Also competing in Malaysia is Wollmann’s brother, Mikey, in the Laser Radial Men’s fleet.

The regatta debutant is 37th in the 68-strong racing fleet after posting finishes of 42 and 35 in the opening two races.

The forecast is for the wind to continue to drop off each day which would prove ideal for the siblings who thrive in the lighter air.

n A fleet of six will kick off the inaugural M32 Series Bermuda to run from January to April.

The series opener will be held from January 8 to 10 with racing taking place in the Great Sound, the venue for the 35th America’s Cup.

Organised by M32 North America in conjunction with the Royal Bermuda Yacht Club, the fleet for the opening event will consist of private owners and professional teams including Volvo Ocean Race skipper Charlie Enright, and Sally Barkow, a former Olympic sailor and Rolex Yachtswoman of the Year.

For the second race of the Series from February 19 to 21, Ian Williams, the five-times match racing world champion and Argo Group Gold Cup winner, will be joining the fleet with his new GAC Pindar M32.

The Bermuda Series will provide valuable training time for Williams and his team in preparation for the opening event of the World Match Racing Tour in March.

“Team GAC Pindar are very much looking forward to sailing in the M32 Bermuda Series this winter,” Williams said.

“It will give us a great opportunity to hone our skills ready for the 2016 World Tour, besides which it will be great fun sailing the boats in Bermuda.”