Sailing: Tuke and Burling best of Kiwis at Euro champs

Blair Tuke.Photo/File

Kerikeri's Blair Tuke and his 49er partner Peter Burling have made a solid start to defending their European Championship title in Helsinki, Finland.

The duo were the best finishers of the Kiwi crews, racing in 7-12 knot winds, opening the regatta with a race win before placing 12th and fourth in the subsequent races on day one.

Burling and Tuke, Olympic silver medallists and reigning world champs, sit sixth overall in the standings after Tuesday night's racing.

Tuke said that the pair were content with the start they have made.

"Solid day one for us here at the European Champs," said Tuke. "Couple of missed opportunities but all in all a nice start to a long week."

Points were predictably close through the leaders at this early stage in the six day regatta, and the New Zealanders can be grateful they're not one of a number of crews suffering boat damage after coming in contact with a rock - or the bottom - off Helsinki.

Fellow Northlander Marcus Hansen and his 49er partner Josh Porebski have also made a solid start to their campaign.

The Kiwi young guns were in 13th place at the end of the opening day, racing home with a fourth, 12th, and eighth place finishes.

In the 49erFX fleet of 51, another Northlander, Alexandra Maloney, and her partner Molly Meech are in 17th after four races.

"Tough first day for us, as we forced ourselves to play catch up in all four races," said Maloney and Meech.

"We are happy there are plenty more races over the next five days to improve on today's performance."

New Zealand boats:

49er (83 boats): 6th: Peter Burling and Blair Tuke 17 points (1, 12, 4); 13th: Marcus Hansen and Josh Porebski 24 points (4, 11, 8); 39th: Logan Dunning-Beck and Jack Simpson 40 points (15, 16, 9); 58th: Ben Goodwin and Sam Bullock 53 points (15, 13, 25).

49erFX (51 boats): 17th: Alexandra Maloney and Molly Meech 23 points (8, 11, 6, 9); 27th: Erica Dawson and Ellie Copeland 33 points (11, 9, 13, 23).