WEDNESDAY, MAY 2: Just five races remain to determine who will represent Bermuda at IODA World Championships in July in the Dominican Republic.
This Saturday will see if Rory Caslin, Mikey Wollmann, Chase Cooper, Benn Smith and Antonio Bailey can hold onto their places.
Or if Peter Dill, Makai Joell, Ceci Wollmann, Campbell Patton and Matilda Nicholls can break through from the top 10 and secure one of the five spots to represent Bermuda.
Last weekend the Bermuda Optimist Dinghy Association (BODA) worlds team trials had its penultimate race day out in the Great Sound with ten more closely fought races completed resulting in a tight grouping of sailors near the top of the leader board.
Conditions on Saturday forced sailors to contend with light-air tactics in the tricky winds under 8 knots while Sunday brought more than enough breeze exceeding 14 knots to tire even the heaviest of racers.
Results are provisional pending some outstanding protests but 15 year old Rory Caslin continues to lead the pack but is being challenged out on the water by 11 year old Mikey Wollmann.
Both are tied on points but Caslin retains the lead by virtue of a tie-break. Wollmann has been sailing extremely well since coming back from the IODA South American Championships and has nine top-five finishes in fifteen starts in this series.
Chase Cooper sits three points back in third place while the pair of Benn Smith and Antonio Bailey needed a tie breaker to separate them into fourth and fifth place respectively with 48 points each.
Peter Dill is currently in sixth place, only three points shy of a spot on the five sailor team who will head to the Worlds in July.
Rounding out the top ten are Makai Joell, Ceci Wollmann, Campbell Patton and Matilda Nicholls.
Team Bermuda’s Worlds team is sponsored by Aspen Insurance as Gold Sponsor and the Kitson Group of Companies as Silver Sponsor.
Last weekend BODA hosted a Green Fleet Clinic run by Tom Coleman.
Sponsored by Riihiluoma's Flying Colours, the main focus of the weekend was for the novice racers to have fun on and off the water while learning basic racing techniques.
Spokesperson Somers Cooper said: “Saturday's gentle conditions provided the perfect setting for the clinic and the 17 young sailors sailed simple courses off Newstead.
“Lunch and games in Barr's Bay Park was followed by a fun afternoon session on the water.
“Parents were amazed to watch how quickly the kids improved. Sunday again turned out to be a lovely day in the harbour although a bit windier than Saturday.
“Conditions were such that some sailors were justifiably reluctant to head back out after lunch as the breeze built but some hardy kids returned to the harbour regardless. Their bravery was rewarded with a Green Fleet Special Medal at the end of the clinic.
“Other sailors preferred to show off their new-found skills in the protected Barr's Bay which was a fair compromise.
“Medals were awarded on Sunday afternoon and finally volunteer parents could relax. It was a fun filled two day event and organizers hope to get even more kids and parents involved at the next one.”