Youth Championships hosted by the Island last week.

Jordy Walker, past president of the Bermuda Yachting Association, said yesterday that Bermuda's youngsters had performed better than ever before at the annual regatta.

"Since the employment of national coach Chuck Millican, the improved facilities for junior sailing and increased enthusiasm by the juniors themselves, results are finally starting to show,'' said Walker, who noted that events over the past week had run smoother than he had expected.

"Bermuda should be proud to host an event such as this and to be complimented on being one of the best venues the World Championships has had. "Bermuda has a lot of history and tradition with sailing and it was quite easy to host the event. We did really well and it was a great event''.

National coach Millican was pleased with local youngsters' showing and reckoned if they could get off the Island more than once or twice a year their performances would improve.

"I feel that we could have done better but the kids need more overseas experience. They just don't get enough,'' said Millican, noting that all sports on the Island suffered the same problem.

Megan Spurling, who recorded a first place in one of her races, and another local sailor Elizabeth Walker are about to start an Olympic 2000 campaign for the 470 class by sailing in a 10-day pre-Olympic event with the rest of the Bermuda sailing team in Savannah, Georgia.