The best of local sailing will be among the budding talent on display at the International Optimist Dinghy South American Championships that gets under way today in Punta del Este, Uruguay.

Representing Bermuda at the annual event that will play host fo 158 young sailors from 15 countries are Tayte Stefaniuk, Mikey Wollmann, Joe Arrowsmith, George Buckley, Camille Chin-Gurrett, Felix Cutler, Yanick Hillier and Adam Larson.

Stefaniuk, who is presently ranked No?2 in local Optimist sailing, recently won the Digicel Spring Regatta and was named top male sailor at the National Optimist Championships.

Wollmann is the most experienced sailor in the group, having represented Bermuda in several IODA events around the world.

Chin-Gurret is the most senior and only female member of the team. She is ranked twelfth overall in Bermuda and third among the girls.

The youngest member of the team is Felix Cutler, 11, who is the son of Alec Cutler, recently crowned Melges 32 Miami Winter Series champion.

The contingent is being led by Martin Jenkins, the Bermuda national high performance Optimist coach.

Three titles will go up for grabs in Uruguay: individual, team and the Optimist Nations Cup.