Fourteen of the Island?s most promising young skippers excelled at the United States Optimists Dinghy Association?s (USODA) New England Championships held in Jamestown, Rhode Island last week.

The event, hosted by the Conanicut Yacht Club and boasting overall numbers in excess of 300 youth sailors from around the globe, took place from August 2 to 4 with several of the Island?s young skippers enjoying strong performances in their respective classes racing in light air conditions.

Among those producing Bermuda?s best showings with podium finishes were Samuel Stan and Connor Astwood ? both making debuts overseas racing among larger fleets ? in the Optimists Green and White Fleets.

Stan posted four bullets during the 14 race series and finished second overall while Connor also placed second overall among her respective class.

The local contingent, all of whom sail with the Royal Bermuda Yacht Club?s optimists programme, comprised of junior sailors aged nine to 14 competing in colour coded fleets based on age and sailing ability.

?We?ve always traditionally shown how strong we are at club level,? stated Paul Doughty, who accompanied the youngsters overseas to Rhode Island.

Former Optimists skippers Jesse Kirkland and Sean Bouchard are past winners of the New England Championships where Bermuda have been competing for nearly a decade.

Others competing were William Gardner (13th), Oliver Lewis (35) and Megan Nagel (46) both of whom also saw action among the in the Green Fleet while Renee Greenslade (ninth), Kyle Burgess (tenth), Emily Nagel (16th) and Georgia Lewis (27th) sailed in the White Fleet.

Blake Burgess finished 19th overall in the Blue Fleet while Johnny Norfleet and Joshua Greenslade finished a highly creditable fifth and sixth overall competing in the elite Red Fleet.

Joshua placed fifth at the European Optimists Championships two weeks prior to heading of to the US east coast.

?Everyone had excellent performances,? Doughty added.

Jonathan Dill and Gregory Trott also competed in the Red Fleet, finishing 51st and 100th respectively.