Bermuda?s young sailors have achieved a remarkable ?three-peat? at the Nations Cup in Argentina.

The national Optimist team continued their match racing dominance in South America where they had won for the last two years.

This time, at last week?s South American Optimist Championships in San Isidro, the young Islanders took first and third place.

Going into the competition as two-time defending champions and clear favourites, Bermuda entered three teams of five sailors in the regatta which boasted 13 other countries.

Columbia, Uruguay, Argentina, Mexico, Chile and the USA were all among the fleet but it was tiny Bermuda that again came up trumps in the sudden death knock-out format.

While Bermuda had won twice before, this marked the first time they had finished with two teams on the championship podium.

Bermuda?s first-place team comprised of Sean Bouchard, Jason Saints, Oliver Riihiluoma, Cameron Pimentel and Elijah Simmons, while the third-placed team was made up of James Anfossi, William Hutchings, Ryan Saraiva, Eleanor Gardner and Joshua Greenslade.

A third Bermuda team saw Anthony Bailey, Lance Fraser, Jordan Saints, Johnny Norfleet and Martin Finegan flying the Island?s flag.

Meanwhile, in the individual competition Bermuda also made its presence felt, taking two top 10 positions in the fleet of 173 sailors from 14 countries.

Bouchard placed eighth overall while Joshua Greenslade finished 10th. Both sailors produced consistent results, quickly mastering the light winds, shifty conditions and unpredictable water currents in the River Plate.

Other Bermuda finishes were: Elijah Simmons 24th, Eleanor Gardner 30th, Cameron Pimentel 33rd , Oliver Riihiluoma 36th, Anthony Bailey 66th, William Hutchings 71st, James Anfossi 73rd, Jordan Saints 87th, Jason Saints 91st, Johnny Norfleet 94th, Martin Finegan 103rd, Ryan Saraiva 134th and Lance Fraser 154th

President of the Bermuda Optimist Dinghy Association, Eddie Saints, said on his return this week: ?We are very proud of our young sailors? accomplishments both on and off the water.

?Their achievements in this year?s event both in the team match racing competition and in the individual competition are highly recognised and respected by the international sailing community who remain impressed that a small country like Bermuda can produce world class sailors with consistent results year on year.

?It?s important to have our young sailors participate in the South American Optimist Championship which is recognised as one of the world?s most competitive racing events in the Optimist class.

?Clearly our sailors are of world class standing that can only be maintained by giving them to opportunity to compete and succeed against some of the best optimist sailors in the world.?

Following a well-earned rest over the Easter term school break, the local sailors will start the Spring racing series in Hamilton Harbour as a lead-up to the North American Optimist Championships in Trinidad and Tobago in June.