Top Bermuda youth sailors Ceci Wollmann, Benn Smith and Peter Dill head to Jensen Beach, Florida this weekend to compete in the Byte CII North American Championships, a qualifying regatta for the 2014 Youth Olympic Games to be held in China this August.
All three attended the Byte World Championship last June in Newport RI where Wollmann qualified Bermuda in the Female category. Smith and Dill are now tasked with attempting to do the same for the Male Division at this final qualifying event. 9 countries including Bermuda are vying for the 4 remaining spots this weekend. If Dill or Smith qualifies the country in Florida this weekend the Bermuda Sailing Association will choose an event to determine the eventual participant. Chase Cooper is another contender in the three-way race but is unable to attend this qualifier due to school commitments.
This past August, Ceci Wollmann placed 3rd Female at the Worlds qualifier, securing the spot for Bermuda. Wollmann and Dill just completed a weeklong training session over the half-term holiday with well-known coach Cristian Noe. Noe will coach the two at the championship in Florida while former Bermuda Youth Olympic Dinghy Coach, Pablo Weber, will coach Smith.
The inaugural Youth Olympic Games were held in Singapore in 2010.
Bermuda sailor Owen Siese finished in 6th place and was in Medal contention for most of the regatta.
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