Bermuda’s sailors impressed in ideal conditions during the first day of competition at the International Optimist Dinghy Association South American Championships in Punta del Este, Uruguay. yesterday.

Tayte Stefanuik, the reigning national Optimist champion, leads Bermuda’s eight-strong contingent after three races in 22nd overall. The Warwick Academy student has so far managed one top five finish.

Seven places further down the leader board is Adam Larson in 29th. The Royal Hamilton Amateur Dinghy Club youth sailor, who is making his debut at an IODA regatta, has produced Bermuda’s highest finish in a race to date after placing fourth in yesterday’s third race.

In 38th is Joe Arrowsmith who has so far managed one top ten finish.

Mikey Wollman sits in 56th also with one top ten finish followed by Felix Cutler, 74th, and Camille Chin-Gurret, 97th, who are the remaining local sailors presently among the top one hundred participants in a fleet of 158.

Yannick Hillier sits in 124th and George Buckley in 154th.

Yesterday saw the fleet sail in light breezes and current which suited Bermuda’s sailors.

The 2014 IODA South American Championships started last Saturday with the official opening ceremony. However, racing was delayed a day due to strong winds.

Local sailors have performed admirably at the annual event over the past several years, with the likes of 2012 Olympian Jesse Kirkland, Joshua Greenslade, Sean Bouchard and Chase Cooper all producing top ten showings.

Gabriel Lopes, of Brazil, Ivan Shestopalov and Zane Rogers, both of USA, occupied the top three positions on the leader board after the opening three races.