Ireland's Tom Higgins and Australia's Mina Ferguson performed best on day one at the Laser Radial Youth World Championships ©ILCA

Ireland’s Tom Higgins made the strongest start to the International Laser Class Association Laser Radial Youth World Championships in the boys’ division.

Higgins recorded first and fourth-place finishes in Portsmouth Olympic Harbour in Canadian city Kingston, where more than 200 sailors from 32 countries are competing during six days.

That proved enough to give him the lead ahead of France’s Martin Kowalski, who banked a fifth and a third, while Slovenia’s Gasper Strahovnik secured an eighth and a first.

Luke Cashmore of New Zealand is fourth overall, the United States’ Michael Burns is fifth and Lee Wonn Kye of Singapore sixth.

The highest-placed home sailor is Tayte Stefaniuk in 29th.

In the girls’ division, Australia’s Mina Ferguson heads the field with a sixth and a first, Ireland’s Eve McMahon on her tail with a third and a fourth.

Third overall is Britain’s Matilda Nicholls, who sealed seventh and third-place finishes.

Turkey’s Ece Asya  İkizler, Canada’s Hunter Dejean and Ireland’s Clare Gorman round off the top six.

Action is scheduled to continue tomorrow.