Bermuda will defend their team title at next week?s North American Optimist Sailing Championships in Tobago.

Thirteen of the Island?s top junior skippers, ages 11 to 14, have been selected to represent the country in the June 25 to July 2 regatta following trials by the Bermuda Optimist Dinghy Association (BODA).

Given their recent success at the South American Championship in Argentina, Bermuda will be seeking to repeat their outstanding performance at last year?s North American Championships where the Island secured five top-ten finishes and retained the North American team racing crown for a third consecutive year.

More than 170 international youth sailors from 18 countries throughout the Americas will compete in the event which will provide Bermuda with an excellent opportunity to test their skills against some of their top rivals ahead of the 2005 European Optimist Championship in Poland and the World Championship in Switzerland.

?We are very excited to be able to send our team to this important event which is the second of four international sailing events that our young sailors will be participating in this year,? said BODA president Eddie Saints.

?As defending champions in team racing, coupled with achieving five top-ten places (and) with Elijah Simmons (being) the defending North American Champion, all eyes will be focused on the Bermuda team to see if they can repeat last year?s performance.?