Paul Doughty, the Bermuda Optimist Dinghy Association development officer, has given Bermuda’s performance at the International Optimist Dinghy Association South American Championships in Uruguay the thumbs up.

Tayte Stefaniuk and Adam Larson placed among the top 50 in the overall fleet while Felix Cutler, the youngest member of the team at 11, also impressed in his first major overseas regatta.

Bermuda I finished tied for fourth with Chile III at the Nations Cup Team Racing Championships, which was held in conjunction with the IODA South American Championships.

“Overall, I think it’s a very good result based on their placement, which is fairly high for their age,” Doughty said. “The placings reflect that some of the younger kids are starting to come on now; they are becoming more self reliant on their decision making processes.

“Generally, South American sailors are very aggressive, so if they have held their own against that, then they have done a very good job.”

Stefaniuk placed 29th overall to lead the local contingent. Larson finished 41st overall, while Joe Arrowsmith rounded off the top three local sailors in Uruguay in 53rd overall.

Cutler finished 83rd overall and 30th in the blue fleet followed by Mikey Wollman who was 89th overall and 36th in the blue fleet.

George Buckley placed 93rd overall and 40th in the blue fleet with Camille Chin-Gurret, the only local female sailor at the event, finishing 97th overall and 44th in the blue fleet.

Yannick Hillier finished 148th overall and 42nd in his respective class.

This year’s IODA South American Championships featured 158 sailors from 14 countries. American Ivan Shestopalov won the fleet racing title while team honours went to Chile I.

Elsewhere, Bermuda’s Optimist sailors held their own at the Lake Garda Meeting in Italy. Campbell Patton finished 27th in the gold fleet.

Matilda Nicholls finished 90th in the gold fleet while Luke Madeiros was 96th in the green fleet.

Flo Nicholls and Ethan Madeiros placed 19th and 85th in their respective fleets in the under-11 age bracket.