Bermuda’s sailors capitalised on the light air conditions during the opening day of the 2023 Comet International Championship in the Great Sound on Thursday.

Only one of the two scheduled races was held due to a lack of wind, with seven local sailors thrusting themselves in early contention for honours by being among the top ten finishers.

Stevie Dickinson led the island’s charge when finishing second, followed by compatriots Benn Smith and Alan Frith in third and fourth.

Kelsey Durham came ashore in sixth, with Rudy Bailey, the record ten-times race winner, finishing eighth, Dale Brangman ninth and Maxwell Curtis Jr tenth.

“Today it was very light wind, we were probably racing in 5 knots and less than at times,” Olympic hopeful Smith told The Royal Gazette.

The 23-year-old and Dickinson swapped the lead of the race before being passed by eventual winner Robert Gruskos, of the United States, on the last upwind leg heading towards the finish.

“Me and Stevie were fighting on the left hand side of the course and the boat [Gruskos] that was in third got to the right of us and got a big pressure and actually sailed around both of us,” Smith added.

“I felt really good about the day. Our speed was good and I think it’s really going to be tight racing for the rest of the event.”

Defending champion Jack Swikart, of the United States, sits in fifth after the opening race of the seven-race series.

The Shrewsbury Sailing and Yacht Club helmsman is competing with sister crew Kate, who is making her debut in the championship.

The pair warmed up for the event in spectacular fashion with victory in the Edward Cross Long Distance Comet Race from the Great Sound to St George’s Harbour on Monday.

Swikart is only the second overseas helmsman to win that prestigious regatta after Mark Hess in 1996.