Bermuda’s representatives at the Ilca 7 Men’s World Championships struggled on the opening day of competition.

Sebastian Kempe and Campbell Patton took to the waters at Royal St George’s Yacht Club in Dun Loaghaire, Ireland, alongside 139 of the best sailors on the planet and competed in the first three races of the regatta.

Tricky conditions did not seem to suit the Bermuda contingent, with light and shifty winds combining with a sloppy sea state. Winds slowly built from five to 12 knots by the end of the day.

Racing in the yellow fleet, Kempe did best of the Bermudian duo ending the day in 69th position after finishing 22nd, seventeenth and 23rd in his three races. After dropping his worst result, he has 39 net points.

Patton lies 114th after finishing 45th, 43rd and 24th in the three races in red fleet.

Both sailors have plenty of work to do to make the top third of the field and secure a spot in gold fleet when the field splits according to finishing positions in the first couple of days.

Home favourite Finn Lynch is top of the standings after the opening day following finishes of first, second and fourth in blue fleet. Atillio Borio, of Italy, occupies second place with Germany’s Ole Schweckendiek in third place.

The World Championships continues on Wednesday with two races scheduled to take place.