Santiago Pacheco came from behind to win the 2017 RenaissanceRe Junior Gold Cup in Hamilton Harbour yesterday.

The Uruguayan sailor started the final three races in second behind Jose Rother, of Argentina.

Up until yesterday Rother had been flawless in the Optimist dinghy across a range of conditions.

However, the form that had kept the Argentinian at the top of the pecking order eluded him when it mattered most and Pacheco took full advantage of Rother’s struggles in the light air conditions to complete an impressive fightback and claim the win.

Pacheco posted a 10-6-17 record on the day and after discarding his worst score (17) finished three points clear of second-placed finisher Calle Lagerberg of Sweden, with Rother a further point back in third.

Germany’s Anna Barth won the girls title and was seventh overall.

Charlotte Leigh, of the United States, finished second among the girls followed by Malta’s Antonia Schultheis in third.

Christian Ebbin was the top local in the boys division and eighth overall.

Sebastian Kempe finished a close second and Magnus Ringsted third to round off the local boys podium.

Nicole Stovell topped the local girls standings and was 18th overall.

Leyli Walker and Laura Hupman completed the local girls podium in second and third respectively.

Claiming the inaugural Junior Gold Cup team race championship was Team 3 — comprised of sailors from Germany, Portugal, Sweden and the United States — who beat Bermuda Optimist Dinghy Association 1 in Saturday’s best-of-three final in Hamilton Harbour.

This year’s Junior Gold Cup featured one of the largest female fleets in recent history. Of the 13 girls competing, seven were from Bermuda.

Mia Nicolosi, of St Thomas, made regatta history last year after becoming the first girl to win the event.

Nicolosi, however, did not return this year to defend her title.