Puerto Rico’s Gianmarco Piovanetti and American Minx Anthony topped the fleets after the opening day of the RenaissanceRe Junior Gold Cup on Wednesday.

Piovanetti was the most consistent male sailor as he posted a 6-3-1-3 record to seize the overall lead of the regatta. Switzerland’s Edward Hirsch sits two points adrift in second followed by Anthony a farther point back in third.

Bermuda champion Miguel Power and Nina Gotfredsen top the local fleets in fifth and 15th respectively after the opening four races of the 13-race series.

Dede Cooper, the regatta chair, summed up the first day as a success.

‘“It was a great first day. Winds were shifty and 16-18 knots in choppy seas,“ she said.

“In the fleet of girls it was a day for Minx Anthony from the United States, but Mariana Pinto from Portugal is just a little behind.

“In the Bermuda fleet, national champion Miguel Power stayed right up there with the foreign champions finishing the day in 5th overall.

“Swiss sailor Edward Hirsch managed to stay at the top finishing the day in second even though he has an injury and is sailing in a cast.

“Most pleasing was to see the younger up-and-coming Bermudians staying with the fleet, many of whom have not sailed a championship regatta and this being their first high-calibre introduction to international competition.”

The regatta is making a return after a three-year hiatus caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.

“I am thrilled to have this regatta back on the calendar and it is so fantastic for the Bermuda sailors,” Cooper added.

Racing is scheduled to resume on Thursday weather permitting as Tropical Storm Phillipe continues to bear down on the island.

“We will make a call in the morning when we see what the day looks like,” Cooper said.

This year’s regatta involves 40 sailors from 14 different countries, including 26 of Bermuda’s best at this level.