Promising sailor Chase Cooper stepped up his IODA North American and World Championships preparations in the Netherlands last week.The 14-year-old Warwick Academy student competed at the Dutch Youth Regatta in Workum where he placed 57th in a fleet of 465 Optimist sailors from 20 countries.Cooper found the going tough on the opening day of the largest multi-class youth regatta in Europe as he adjusted to the breezy, cool and choppy conditions. But he eventually found his groove on the last two days of the regatta on the man-made Ijsselmeer lake in central Holland, posting five top-ten finishes over the final seven races.The Royal Bermuda Yacht Club and Sandys Boat Club youth sailor teamed up with Canadian National Champion Justin Vittecoq who was the sole competitor from his country. Both sailors were coached by international Optimist coach Pablo Weber.Swiss sailor Damian Suri, who placed third at last year’s Renaissance Re Junior Gold Cup in Bermuda, topped the Optimist fleet at last week’s Dutch Youth Regatta.Earlier this year Cooper underlined his potential after claiming top honours at the Mar del Plata Regatta in Argentina.He also led the local contingent at the 2013 IODA South American Championships in Brazil where he placed tenth in an overall field of 144 sailors from 14 countriesThe Bermuda Optimist Dinghy Association’s (BODA) 2012 Sailor of the Year was awarded $4,435 by Government via the National Junior Athletic Sponsorship Programme to compete at last week’s Dutch regatta as well as another regatta to be held later this year in St Thomas.