Competitors battling it out in Topper, Laser and Handicap fleets enjoyed ideal weather on the first day. Clear sunny skies and a moderate 10 to 15 knot breeze allowed a brisk start to racing.

Local sailors were among the winners in the opening encounters.

Matlock youngster Joshua Haynes, sailing his Optimist, won Monday’s afternoon race, while Derbyshire team mates Craig McCarthy and James Hadden took early leads in the fast handicap class.

At the event on Monday was top yachtswoman Katie Miller, who gave a short talk to the NSSA sailors, telling of her recent win in the bluQube 1000 Solo race, a one thousand-mile, single-handed race in offshore yachts.

The racing continues today and concludes on Friday.

l Dame Ellen MacArthur has missed out on adding another record to her list of incredible achievements.

The Whatstandwell yachstwoman and her crew aboard their iShares Extreme 40 top-speed sailboat were bidding to set the fastest time for a two-way run between Greenwich Yacht Club and the O2 Arena, on the River Thames, on Monday.

But her team's time of nine minutes and 57 seconds was beaten by two other boats taking part.