Bermuda's promising young sailor Jessie Kirkland moved within two races of capturing the 2002 Colonial Group North American Optimist Championships after fleet racing resumed in Hamilton Harbour yesterday.

Kirkland got off to a fine start when he finished second in the day's opening race and then a 12th and an eighth earned the 14-year-old a commanding 26-point lead over second-placed Mexican sailor Jonathan Hernandez.

Kirkland had entered the day's racing in second place overall after seven races, trailing the overnight leader, Argentine Facundo Alonso, by two points.

Alonso slipped to seventh after yesterday's three races.

Such was the local dominance during yesterday's opening race that seven of the Island's entries placed in the top 15.

Kirkland can now officially wrap up the championship today when the first of the final two races begins at 11 a.m. out in the Great Sound.

In addition to Kirkland's success yesterday, fellow Bermudians Sean Bouchard and Oliver Riihiluoma also enjoyed impressive performances.

Bouchard sailed to victory during the day's opening race and has now moved to 18th position in the overall standings, while Riihiluoma jumped up to 34th in a fleet comprised of 113 young sailors.

Yesterday's conditions saw the youngsters competing in 12-18 knot breezes that provided a "flat to light" chop out in the harbour.

Race organiser Paul Doughty has encouraged the public to come out and view today's final two races.

"Tomorrow (today) is the final two races and we decided that we would save one more race because we want the public to come out and watch and to support Team Bermuda," said Doughty. "And we want them alsoo to enjoy fantastic, competitive racing that has been going on out there.

"It seems as though every race a new kid steps up to bat and wins the race - and that's great because that means that you have the right type of regatta.

"There isn't just one dominant figure there.

"Obviously Jesse (Kirkland) is showing a little more savvy than everybody else, but there are still two more races to go."

Kirkland's elder brother, Zan, slipped two places from 11th to 13th during racing in the UK Laser Nationals being sailed off Plymouth, England.

Competing among a strong fleet of 91 international sailors, the young Bermudian placed 20th in the fifth race after previous finishes of seventh, 49th, 11th and 13th, and still remains very much in the hunt for honours.

Paul Goodison of Great Britain is the regatta's current leader, having won four out of the five races.