By Colin Thompson

Sailing Correspondent

Promising sailor Campbell Patton put in a strong showing at the Palamós Optimist Trophy Nations Cup that concluded on Sunday in Palamós, Spain.

The son of experienced Etchells sailor Tim Patton placed eighteenth in an international fleet of 538 boats.

Campbell made a huge improvement on his previous showing at the regatta, having placed 55th last year, 42 places behind compatriot Mikey Wollmann in thirteenth.

Patton was the only local sailor that competed at this year’s Palamós Optimist Trophy Nations Cup.

Only one race was held on the final day of competition as light winds, that plagued the regatta throughout, forced the race committee to abandon racing in the second race.

But with four races having already been completed, sailors were allowed to discard their worst scores. Female sailor Deike Bornemann, of Germany, was declared the winner with Spain’s Jaime Benthem Muñiz and Britain’s Julia Mellers rounding out the podium. Bornemann finished fourth at last year’s event.

n Legendary America’s Cup skipper Dennis Conner will be the guest speaker at Friday’s dinner/lecture fundraiser at the Royal Bermuda Yacht Club.

The multiple America’s Cup winner will share his wealth of expertise and raise funds for a team to represent Bermuda at this summer’s ISAF Team Racing World Championship in England.

The ISAF Team Racing World Championship will take place in Rutland from July 20 to 24. The regatta will feature 36 teams competing in double handed Firefly type dinghies across open and youth divisions.

Often referred to as “Mr America’s Cup”, Conner has won the oldest trophy in international sport four times, successfully defending the coveted “Auld Mug” in 1974, 1980, and 1988 and winning as the challenger in 1987. He is also an Olympic bronze medallist and two-times Star World Champion.

Friday’s function starts at 6.30pm.