Ethan Thompson led Bermuda’s charge in the opening qualifying races at the Optimist South American Championships in Mar del Plata, Argentina today.

Thompson coped best among the local contingent in the rough conditions as he posted an impressive 9-3-11 record in the first three races of the qualifying series competing in the red fleet.

The 14-year-old Mount St Agnes student is presently twelfth among the overall fleet of 155 sailors and well on course to advance to the business end of the championships.

Also competing in the red fleet is Shiloh Cruickshank who is 67th after posting a 17-21-34 record.

Sophia Dias sits in 83rd after finishes of 20th, 44th and 22nd competing in the blue qualifying fleet.

Also competing in the blue fleet is Sarah Davis and Oliver Soares who ended day one in 89th and 141st. Davis posted a 28-32-29 record and Soares 34-50-29 in the trying conditions.

Competing among the yellow qualifying fleet is the trio of Riley Lowe, Trystan Hocking and Dylan Menzies.

Riley came ashore at the Club Nautico Mar Del Plata in 91st, Hocking 115th and Menzies 128th.

Summing up the day’s racing, Bermuda team leader Jacob Hocking said: “They did well. The weather conditions were good, but the ocean was still rough.

“Ethan was our highest finisher with a third place in the second race. Shiloh was the second Bermudian with a high of 20th and Sophia highest placed Bermudian girl with a best of 20th.

“Trystan placed 21st in the first race. Sarah and Riley both placed well with highest placements of 28 in their best races.

“Dylan and Ollie suffered in the conditions but put in tremendous effort and expect to improve tomorrow.”

David Coates, of the United States, holds a one point advantage over Argentine Tomas Travaglini at the top of the standings. Chile’s Agustin Segovia is a farther point back in third.

Arantza Valdivieso Zimmermann, of Peru, leads the girls fleet and is fifth overall. Angela Vittoria Domine Zeano, of Argentina, sits in second and 16th overall, and Peru’s Isabella Suazo third among the girls and 18th overall.

The five-race qualifying series will determine the gold, silver and bronze fleets for the final series.

The championships run until Saturday and also feature a team racing event scheduled to begin on Wednesday.

Bermuda’s Chase Cooper won the regatta in 2013.