Tim Patton has hailed Bermuda’s impressive showing at this year’s IODA South American Optimist Championships in Paracas, Peru.

The Island’s youth sailors punched above their weight in the team racing event for the Nations Cup, reaching the quarter finals of the double elimination competition, before losing to USA 1 and finishing fourth among the eleven participating countries.

“We should be very proud of how the Bermuda team did at the South American Championships,” Patton, the team leader, said.

“Once again Bermuda’s young sailors have shown that we can compete with the best in the world and we have very much to be proud of.”

Bermuda lost to US Virgin Island, the eventual runners up, in their opening flight.

However, they came roaring back with successive victories over Ecuador 2 and Mexico 1 before being eliminated in the quarter finals.

“As a team collectively they did better than teams other Bermuda teams have recently,” Patton said.

“They were up against some of the best sailors in the whole continent. And everybody that they sailed against had to qualify to be in the regatta — and that includes the top fifteen Americans.

“This shows that Bermuda sailors can compete shoulder with shoulder with those on the international stage.”

Representing Bermuda at this year’s championships were Micah Raynor, Adam Larson, Tayte Stefaniuk, Jordan Etemadi and Patton’s son Campbell.

Team Bermuda was coached by Argentinian Martin Jenkins.

Tayte was the top local sailor in the fleet racing event and 28th overall in the 51-boat Gold Fleet. Larson was the next highest local sailor 46th in the Gold Fleet.

Patton topped the Silver Fleet followed by Etemadi in 33rd while Raynor placed tenth in the Bronze Fleet.

“The conditions were sort of perfect in that there was a little bit of everything,” Patton said. “There was light air in which Adam Larson clearly excelled, medium air in which Tayte Stefaniuk did very very well and heavy air which Campbell Patton sailed well in.”

Raynor and Etemadi, grandson of late local sailing legend Jordy Walker, also showed promise at the championships.

“Micah unfortunately had two black flags in one day which very sadly relegated him to the Bronze Fleet,” Patton said.

“But he had some absolutely sterling moments and he has a very bright future. Jordan just turned 12 years old and this was his first overseas IODA regatta and he did well in the Silver Fleet so he also has a bright future.”

The 2015 IODA Optimist South American Championship took place off the Peruvian Coast April 10 to 19.