Team New Zealand helmsman Peter Burling has made a solid start to the Moth class sailing world championships on Lake Garda in Italy.

Burling, racing in the green fleet, has had a second in his opening race and a third in his second race to lie fifth on the overall standings. Britain's Paul Goodison won both races ahead of Burling.

In the blue fleet, Oracle America's Cup tactician Tom Slingsby also had two victories to share the overall lead with defending champion Goodison.

Burling told Radio Sport it had been a while since he raced a Moth so he was happy with his performance on day one.

"It was obviously a pretty tricky day out there. It's been a long time since I've been in a Moth. I'm really happy to get a couple of good scores on the board to start off with in the qualifying series. It will be a pretty long week, I've got plenty to learn before the end of it," Burling said.

"It's just a good bit of fun. Obviously it's pretty low-key yachting. It's just really good fun. I've done the Moth worlds quite a few times and I got the opportunity to come up here, albeit pretty soon after the Cup. It's a pretty beautiful part of the world in Lake Garda. One of the nicest sailing venues in the world, albeit the breeze isn't doing what it normally does, which I'm pretty sure everybody says when you go to an event."

The Qualification Series racing continues tomorrow.