Carlow sailor Finn Lynch didn't get the start he was hoping for at the Olympic qualifier in Japan today.

The Rio 2016 veteran finished outside the top-20 on day one of the event, which is the second qualification opportunity for the Tokyo Olympics next year.

"Finn has everything he needs to perform but must look beyond the pressure of the event for the remaining races," commented Vasilij Zbogar, the Slovenian triple Olympic medallist who is the Irish squad head Laser coach.

"But I am very pleased with how the younger sailors did on their first day competing at this level."

Dubliner Ewan McMahon placed third in his first race of the series in what's his first senior world championship, but he was disqualified in the second race for early starting and will drop that score under the discard system later in the regatta.

Liam Glynn, from Bangor, made good on his pre-event training form by placing in the top ten leading boats in both of his races at the first mark before slipping down the ranks by the finish.

The championship series comprises qualification races until Saturday when the field is split into gold, silver and bronze divisions.

Ireland needs a finisher in the top five unqualified nations that will certainly be drawn from the upper ranks of the gold fleet.