Cecilia Wollmann finished the Lasers Midwinters East Regatta in Florida on a high note yesterday.

The 18-year-old posted a second in the final race in the Gold Fleet, her best showing of the regatta, to finish an impressive 23rd among the one hundred entries in the single-handed Laser Radial.

Wollmann, who qualified for this summer’s Olympics in Rio at last month’s Sailing World Cup in Miami, was pleased with her performance in variable conditions.

“Overall, I’m happy on my progress,” said Wollmann, who is among those vying for a spot on Bermuda’s Red Bull Youth America’s Cup team. “The conditions where challenging with very shifty winds on the last two days.”

The Royal Hamilton Amateur Dinghy Club sailor used the regatta as a warm-up for the Olympics.

“For this regatta I went on my own and received some targets from my coach to work on specific areas as I prepare for Rio, so my results was not as important,” she said. “I look forward to a busy six months training in Bermuda and Rio.”

Wollmann’s second-best finish was a third on the penultimate day of the regatta.

Of the ten races contested, she placed among the top 20 on seven occasions.

Also competing at the regatta was Wollmann’s compatriot, Benn Smith, who represents the Royal Bermuda Yacht Club and Spanish Point Boat Club.

Smith finished ten places below Wollmann in 33rd after also qualifying for the Gold Fleet.

Smith found the going tough on the final day, posting a 47th and 41st, his worst scores for the regatta, which he discarded.

He managed four top-20 finishers, with a best showing of seventh arriving in the third race. Henry Marshall claimed top honours in the Laser Radial after pipping nearest rival Chase Carraway on a tie-break.

The Laser Midwinters East Regatta was hosted by the Clearwater Yacht Club, with all racing held in the Gulf of Mexico West of Clearwater Beach.