Smith enjoys double success in N.America

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Promising sailor Benn Smith returned home earlier this week following two highly successful regattas in North America.

The Saltus Grammar School student captured top honours in his age group and finished third overall at the 2012 Sunfish Youth and Junior Championships held on Lake Michigan.

For his outstanding performance in variable conditions, Smith, a product of the Royal Bermuda Yacht Club’s junior sailing programme, was awarded the top junior trophy to cap a memorable regatta.

The Bermudian finished no lower than sixth during the seven-race series and was the only other sailor besides champion Stewart Draheim to score a bullet with his impressive win which came in the sixth race.

Smith eventually finished level on points with rival Britt Kaukeinen after one throw-out but pipped the latter for third by virtue of his win in the penultimate race that denied Draheim a clean sweep of wins.

The son of multiple World and North American Sunfish champion Malcolm Smith also excelled in the Sunfish North American Continental Championship held in conjunction with the Sunfish Youth and Junior Championships.

The 13-year-old sailor placed an impressive 16th in a fleet of 77 with a three top-ten performances.

Smith’s father placed fifth overall after finishing the nine-race series off strongly with three successive podium displays that included two thirds and a second.

The top junior sailor then further underlined his potential with another commendable showing in the Optimist dinghy at last week’s Opti New England Championships in Newport, Rhode Island.

Smith placed 45th in an overall fleet of 321 boats and 33rd in the Red fleet.

Mikey Wollman was Bermuda’s best performer in Newport, finishing 19th overall and fourth in the Blue fleet.

Chase Cooper (Red fleet) finished 22nd overall, Ceci Wollman (Red fleet) 27th, James Amaral (Red fleet) 68th and George Buckley (Blue fleet) 164th.

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