http://9844802 Thousands of spectators flooded into the Nothe sailing venue to watch Team GB from the grassy banks.

There was a fantastic atmosphere in the ticketed area as sailing fans from around the world enjoyed a spectacular day of racing.

People started arriving from 8am to get a good spot in the grounds to cheer on Ben Ainslie and the rest of the team for Sunday’s events.

Ambassadors Frank Peach and Carole Brackley said there were queues right down the road before the doors opened at 10am.

Mr Peach said: “Everyone was in great spirits, there were lots of British flags and a fantastic atmosphere.

“We’ve had people coming up to us asking for tickets, it’s so popular.”

Phil and Sue Sealey travelled down from London and are staying with friends in Chickerell to watch the sailing.

Mr Sealey said: “The atmosphere was amazing, the weather was fine and we had a really great time.

“Of course we were supporting Team GB and cheering on Ben Ainslie, he did really well it was fantastic.”

Mixed fortunes for Olympic champions

BRITAIN’S defending Olympic champions Iain Percy and Andrew Simpson experienced mixed fortunes on day one of their London 2012 regatta.

Big wind shifts on the Weymouth Bay West course and an error of judgement saw the duo slip ‘frustratingly’ from an early lead to 11th place in race one in the Star two-person keelboat.

But the duo kept their cool and finished race two neck and neck with World Champion Robert Scheidt and crew Bruno Prada. Percy and Simpson are currently fifth overall.

Double Olympic gold medallist Percy, 36, of London said: “It’s very nerve-wracking moment when you line up on the start line for the first race of the Games, it brings out mistakes and you pay for that the rest of the week.

Sherborne’s Olympic gold medallist Simpson, 35, said: “It’s the most frustrating thing in the world when you get in the lead and then throw it away.” He added: “Frustrating is a bit of an understatement.”

Home support for sailors

BORN and bred Dorset sailors Lucy and Kate Macgregor and Annie Lush were delighted by the home support for their two races.

Crew Kate Macgregor, aged 21, said: “The first race was really good, we won the start, the second race we lost the start and that showed in the final result.”

Helm Lucy Macgregor, aged 25 said: “It was brilliant, an awesome atmosphere. The crowd was really great, we’re not used to having such a huge crowd watching us sail, it was different for us but we coped with it really well and the racing was close.

“It was a good day for winning starts, we won one, lost one and that transferred through to the results.”

She added: “It’s a shifty race course but we’re really confident that even if we get behind we can pass every one of our competitors by keeping it tight.

“We were definitely seeing a lot of people out for us.”