It's not the Olympics, but in a potential preview as Charlie Buckingham ended Day One of the 2014 Laser North American Championships one point behind leader Bruno Fontes of Brazil, the host Nation of the 2016 Games.
Bermuda is being represented by two sailors Cameron Pimentel and Ceci Wollmann.
What a start Buckingham finished second to Erik Bowers of Minnetonka, Minn., while Fontes cruised to a trio of three’s then heard later back on the beach by the host Alamitos Bay Yacht Club that he had been Disqualified for crossing the start line early.
"I was right at the pin end," Buckingham said. "I don't remember hearing anything."
No problem, after six races on an open sea course everybody could discard his and her worst finishes, so Buckingham's 77 would be buried quietly between a pair of parentheses.
The event also encompasses US Sailing's U.S. Singlehanded Championship for Americans Age 17 and up, which has Buckingham and Chris Barnard---longtime rivals from Newport Beach---as the current two top Olympic hopes in the US Sailing Team Sperry Top-Sider lineup.
Luke Muller leads the Laser Radials with five firsts in six races, tossing a six. Paige Railey, another Sperry Top-Sider sailor, is four points back.
Macey McCann leads the Laser 4.7s with five firsts, ahead of Gage Wilson with five seconds.
Pimentel is competing in the Laser Full Fleet where he is currently 31st with 145 net points, he as a top finish of 25th, while Wollmann is competing in the Laser Radial Fleet, she is in 62nd place with 141 net points after 6 races with a top finish of 17th.
