ROB DICKSON and Sean Waddilove sit third in the overall standings in the men’s skiff.
The Dublin pair came ninth in the first race and fourth in the second before winning the third to leave them trailing only New Zealand.
They face a further nine races over the next three days with the top 10 progressing to the medal race on Thursday.
Sailing Ireland Performance Director James O’Callaghan said:“It was a tough but good day. The wind was light for the first two races which made it challenging.
“It picked up for the final race, so they changed the course. It’s difficult to be consistent with the changing conditions but the guys were, and it reflects in the result.
“We couldn’t ask for a much better start, but we aren’t getting ahead of ourselves.”
IRELAND’S eventing team lie eighth overall but Sarah Ennis on Action Lady M have been ruled out for the remainder of the competition.
Ennis and Susie Berry on Wellfields Lincoln picked up only time penalties before Austin O’Connor jumped clear inside the time.
That saw Ireland climb three places from 11th but Action Lady M was found to be injured meaning the mare cannot take part in Monday’s final showjumping phase.
Aoife Clarke on Sportsfield Freelance will fill in instead.