Bermuda’s sailors have embarked on the first day of the International One Design (IOD) North American Championship, which starts today after the first day was postponed due to high winds.

Flying the island’s flag this year are Bill McNiven, Craig Davis, Kevin Horsfield and Ray DeSilva and their respective crews.

“We have a strong local representation lead by Bill McNiven who has done very well in past regattas here and has a veteran crew,” Rick Thompson, the Bermuda IOD class president, told The Royal Gazette.

“Bill is the podium finishing type and so is Craig, who has won the overall Bermuda fleet annual races. Then you have an Olympian in Ray DeSilva who has a lot of experience.

“All three of them should do reasonably well and then you have Kevin Horsfield, who has a lot of experience and may surprise us.”

Also among the racing fleet is defending champion Tom Price and fellow IOD Gibson Island Yacht Squadron clubmate Courtney Jenkins who are also expected to be at the business end of the regatta.

Making their debut on local waters is Caroline Corbet who hails from the IOD Marblehead fleet, while Tre Jones (IOD Manhattan fleet) and Ned Johnson (North East Harbour fleet) round out the overseas competitors.

Given the delayed start, organisers now plan to make up the missed three races in the next two days to complete the nine-race series.

“The rest of the weekend looks very promising and they should get the races off,” Thompson added.

“The weather looks excellent for Saturday and Sunday, about 15 to 20 knots or maybe a little lighter, which is really good stuff for IODs. They will be getting around the course quite quickly.”

The IOD North American Championship is being held concurrently with the Bermuda Keelboat Regatta also featuring all nine teams.

Royal Hamilton Amateur Dinghy Club helmsman McNiven is the defending Bermuda Keelboat Regatta champion.