Teenage Laser skipper Rajae Woods has begun his bid to qualify for the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing.

The 16-year-old CedarBridge Academy student set sail on the long, gruelling journey to China at last month?s Annual Orange Bowl International Youth Regatta on the waters of Biscayne Bay in Florida where he produced a creditable debut performance in the Olympic class boat.

Woods finished 23rd in a fleet of 43, competing in a full-rig Laser for the first time.

?It was very challenging, rewarding and a good learning experience,? said an enthusiastic Woods, who says his ultimate goal is to represent Bermuda at the Olympics.

Weighing in at 150 pounds, soaking wet, Woods found himself at something of a disadvantage, competing against much heavier opponents ? not to mention in extremely windy conditions.

Still, the local skipper managed to tame the surf and finish just outside of the top half of the fleet.

His highest finish was 13th in the penultimate race of the eight-race series.

?I feel I did very well in the windy conditions where it was very challenging,? added Woods.

?Now I?m looking forward to competing more and hopefully come back home a winner.

?But those were the highest winds ever experienced during this particular regatta.?

Also competing in Florida was Woods? compatriot, Rockal Evans, although not as well as he would liked.

Evans, who sails Comets locally, finished the regatta holding the dreaded wooden spoon after a disappointing 43rd.

American Christopher Wenner clinched the title, taking line honours in six of the eight races, while fellow Americans Christopher Enger and Matt Sterett finished second and third respectively.

?The winds were 45 knots and it was very difficult to keep the boat afloat at times. But it was a good learning experience and I?m confident I can do better,? said Woods, before thanking local sponsors BTC Mobility, Butterfield & Vallis and SKB Coatings for their financial backing.

Since taking up sailing in 1998, Woods ? who also enjoys racing Comets ? has taken line honours in the 2002 Bermuda Byte National Championships and also competed in the Optimist South American Championships the same year.

Last year he teamed up with one of the Island?s other promising young Laser skippers, Jesse Kirkland, who has similar Olympic aspirations, to place a highly respectable fifth in the 60th annual Long Distance Comet Race from St.George?s to Somerset.

Woods and Kirkland both began what has so far proven to be a smooth transition from sailing in the Optimist class to Lasers, nurturing their talents in Laser radials last summer.

Local Optimist skipper Oliver Riihiluoma took overall honours in that class at last month?s Orange Bowl regatta in Florida to lead a strong Bermuda contingent.