After a dominant opening day in England's South Coast, Emirates GBR skipper Dylan Fletcher gave a masterclass of speed and consistency to propel his team to the SailGP top leaderboard.

Fletcher’s crew was the winner of the first race in Portsmouth and never looked back, claiming second, third, and second places in the remaining heats.

They had 36 points at the end of the first day. This was comfortably ahead of Switzerland, and Australia.

"We have had some difficult events so to be here, and enjoy a great Saturday, especially before a home audience, is amazing," Fletcher said.

I'm very happy and proud of our team. We know that tomorrow is still a big day.

Fletcher's crew is desperate to beat the record in Sunday's final, even though Britain has won many SailGP events around the globe.

Fletcher has experienced many big moments. His sailing CV is impressive. With an Olympic gold medal in Tokyo, a world title in 2017, and a position at the helm for the INEOS Britannia America's Cup team, his sailing resume stands out. Since his teens, he has been racing double-handed yachts.

Portsmouth's grandstand was full of spectators who enjoyed the clear skies, unpredictable weather conditions and shifting winds. Coastal obstacles and shifting wind directions kept teams on their toes.

France's hopes were dashed even before the race began when they had to withdraw due to an incident with a wing during training. All athletes are safe but this is a setback for Quentin Delapierre’s team who had just started to find their form after missing out on the early rounds.

Spain leads the SailGP overall standings at the halfway point of the season, followed by Australia, New Zealand, and then Australia. Emirates GBR is fourth overall.

On Sunday, Fletcher and his crew will continue the action in hopes of finally converting home advantage into a British SailGP victory.

SailGP, a global high-speed sailing league, features national teams racing identical F50 foiling catsamarans with speeds nearing 100kph.

(source: Reuters)