The Current Bermuda National Optimist Champion, Benn Smith, leads a group aiming to represent Bermuda at this year's IODA World Championships.
Organized by the Bermuda Optimist Dinghy Association (BODA), racing represented part one of the local selection trials.
Part two will be sailed April 20th & 21st. The top five sailors at the end of part two will qualify to represent Bermuda at the 2013 IODA World Championships in Italy this July.
Race Officer Charles Tatem and his team were able to complete a total of eight races with wind conditions ranging from 5 to 20 knots from the west and southwest.
After eight races Smith sits with 14 points, a 6 point lead over 2nd placed Ceci Wollmann who has 20 points. Chase Cooper had to break a tie with Campbell Patton to secure the 3rd position, both have 33 points. Rounding out the top 5 in the group is Mikey Wollmann with 33 points and Matilda Nicholls in 6th with 35 points.
A total of 23 sailors competed in the racing thus far.
Prior to resuming the World's selection trials in April, BODA is sending a five sailor team to Porto Alegre, Brazil to compete in the IODA South American Championships March 21 - 31.
The South American Championships team consists of trials leader, Benn Smith and Chase Cooper from the Royal Bermuda Yacht Club along with Peter Dill, Ceci and Mikey Wollmann from the Royal Hamilton Amateur Dinghy Club.
They will be accompanied by BODA High Performance Coach Martin Jenkins.
