Chase Cooper has surged up the leaderboard at the 2012 IODA North American Championships.The Bermudian Optimist sailor climbed three places from 13th to tenth on the penultimate day of the regatta despite posting his worst finish to date, a 39th in the eighth race.Cooper, Bermuda's sole representative at the regatta, will look to protect his top ten spot heading into the final races of the IODA North American Championships being held in Valle de Bravo, Mexico.But he is sure to find his work cut out as only 15 points separate sixth through 15th place.The Netherland Antilles' Odile Van Aanholt currently leads the 149 -boat fleet in Mexico.