HAMPSHIRE’S top sailors asserted their dominance in the first round of the most exciting sailing series in the world.

Ten teams packed with pro sailors went head to head in state-of-the-art 40ft catamarans in the first round of the Extreme Sailing Series in Sète, France.

And after 20 bitterly-fought races in front of more than 16,000 spectators it was Hampshire’s sailors who emerged on top.

Warsash’s Pete Cumming, the 2009 champion of the European and Asian Extreme Sailing Series’, started his new campaign onboard Oman Sail’s Masirah with two race wins and countless top threes to finish the event in second place.

Just behind was Oman Sail’s second boat The Wave, Muscat skippered by Hamble’s Paul Campbell-James, at 27 years old the youngest skipper on the tour.

Campbell-James also took top spot in two races to finish just 12 points behind his teammates on Masirah.

He said: “It is still only the first event and we will make sure we put in the training to come back stronger at the next event in Cowes.”

In the biggest turn around since last season, Mike Golding’s Ecover – which finished rock bottom last year – came fourth despite encountering technical problems early on in an impressive display.

Golding, also from Warsash, said: “We knew we had the ability to deliver the performance we delivered. I’m so pleased for the team, and I think this is a fantastic start to the season for us.”

The inaugural event was won by French sailor Yann Guichard sailing Groupe Edmond de Rothschild.

The next round of of the five-date tour will take place in Cowes during the world-famous Cowes Week from July 31 to August 5.