He started competitive sailing at the Real Club Náutico de Arrecife, where one of his instructors was Aureliano Negrín, starting in the Optimist and Cadet classes. After alternating sailing with ironman triathlon, he joined the Snipe class, where he was runner-up in the Spanish Youth Championship in 2004 and 2005. In 2004 he won his first international title when he was proclaimed European junior Snipe champion in Trieste.