Chase Cooper remains firmly on course for a top ten finish at the 2012 IODA Optimist North American Championships in Mexico.The Bermudian sailor is currently 13th in a field of 149 competitors at the halfway stage of the 12-race series being contested in Valle de Bravo, which is a man made lake 2500 meters above sea level located near Mexico City.Cooper, Bermuda’s sole representative at the regatta, has managed two top ten finishes so far.He has a best finish of sixth and a worst of 23 which leaves him within striking distance of a top ten finish with a narrow margin separating the top sailors.The first half of the regatta witnessed typical light and shifty 10-12 thermal breezes.Cooper’s decision to arrive early in Mexico to train with top female Optimist sailor Odile Van Aanholt appears to be paying off so far.Earlier this month Cooper led the local fleet at the 2012 Renaissance Re Junior Gold Cup where he finished seventh overall in a formibale field boasting several overseas national champions.Singapore’s Samuel Jiun Jie Neo currently leads the fleet in Mexico followed by Holland’s Van Aanholt and USA’s Sean Brennan in second and third.Fleet racing continues tomorrow and Saturday following today’s rest day.