Tayte Stefaniuk, the Bermuda sailor, almost pulled off a remarkable double at the recent Bermuda Optimist National and Open Championships.

Stefaniuk, who represented Bermuda at last month’s International Optimist Dinghy Association World Championships in Argentina, won the national title.

However, he was denied glory in the Open Championships after finishing runner-up to Carmen Cowles, of the United States.

Only five points separated Stefaniuk and Cowles heading into the final two races of the Championships, which were held on the North Shore after a wind shift forced the race committee to abandon plans to race in St George’s Harbour.

Stefaniuk made further inroads after winning the penultimate race to leave the battle for the title hanging in the balance.

But the local sailor was denied glory after Cowles managed to put one boat between herself and Stefaniuk in the final race, which was enough to land her the Open title by a four-point margin.

Cowles also claimed the women’s title, with Sofia Segalla, her compatriot, capturing the junior title.

Stefaniuk, who posted four wins during the regatta, took the silver medal, while Jack Corbett, the defending champion from the US, earned the bronze to round out the podium.

However, Stefaniuk, who sails out of the Royal Hamilton Amateur Dinghy Club, would not be denied bragging rights when he competed for the national title, which he won by a six-point margin over Adam Larson.

Campbell Patton, the son of experienced Etchells sailor Tim Patton, came third.

Camille Chin-Gurret was crowned the women’s national champion, with Leyli Walker taking the Bermuda junior national title.

RHADC sailors swept the podium in the Green Fleet with the gold medal going to Jacob Pimentel, silver to Azhai Smith and bronze to Jeremiah Samuels.