Austria's Lara Vadlau and Jolanta Ogar lead the women's standings after two victories ©World Sailing

Two-time world champions Lara Vadlau and Jolanta Ogar made a convincing start to the 470 European Championships after dominating the blue fleet races on the first day of the regatta at the Bay of Palma in Spain.

The Austrian duo were only able to claim a bronze medal at the World Championships earlier this year, but dominated their fleet to claim victories in the opening two races.

Having opted to prepare for the Championships, instead of competing at Trofeo Princesa Sofia, Vadlau and Ogar believe the additional rest helped their superb start to the competition.

“They were our conditions, we love this kind of sea breeze wind and we made everything we could do today,” Vadlau said.

“We feel well prepared and we love it again to race.

“And we are hungry to race and I think that is the most important thing.”

Brazil’s Fernanda Oliveira and Ana Barbachan claimed first and fifth place finishes in the yellow fleet to lie second in the open standings, with nations outside Europe able to compete at the event.

Fifth and second place results in the yellow fleet saw Spain’s Silvia Mas Depares and Paula Barcelo Martin boast seven points to lie second in the European Championship standings, with Israel’s Noya Bar-Am and Rimon Shoshan two points further back in third.

Argentina's Lucas Calabrese and Juan De La Fuente lead the men's open standings
Argentina's Lucas Calabrese and Juan De La Fuente lead the men's open standings ©Getty Images

London 2012 bronze medallists Lucas Calabrese and Juan De La Fuente of Argentina lead the men’s open standings having recorded first, second and sixth place finishes in the men’s blue fleet.

Their tally of three points, with their worst score currently discarded, sees them lie one point ahead of three pairings, including Stu McNay and Dave Hughes.

The Americans are hoping to defend the open title and will be buoyed by their positive start, which included one victory from their three races.

Sweden’s Anton Dahlberg and Fredrik Bergström currently head the European Championship standings on four points, but have a disqualification in the second race discarded, leaving their chances at risk should they pick up high scoring finish in the coming days.

Two second place results in the yellow fleet for Jordi Xammar and Joan Herp have the Spanish duo level with the Swedish pair, while Austria’s David Bargehr and Lukas Mähr occupy third place.

World champions Sime Fantela and Igor Marenic are eighth in the overall standings on nine points.