Cameron Pimentel and Cecilia Wollmann will both be looking to get their Olympic qualifying bids up and running in today’s opening races of the World Cup Regatta in Miami.

Pimentel is competing in the full Laser rig, while Wollmann is sailing in the Laser Radial.

Both sailors represented Bermuda at last year’s Pan American Games in Toronto and are hoping to secure qualification to this summer’s Olympics in Rio.

Pimentel did his confidence no harm after finishing tenth in a fleet of 46 at last week’s Lauderdale Olympic Classes regatta in a fleet of 46, while Wollmann underlined her potential after finishing fifteenth among a fleet of 54 at last month’s Youth Sailing World Championships in Malaysia.

Both sailors have been full on in their Olympic qualifying campaigns over the past few months having trained extensively overseas.

Pimentel completed an intense three-month training stint in South America where he split his time between Buenos Aires, and Porto Alegre, Brazil, honing his technique and improving his fitness in preparation for this week’s Olympic qualifier.

The national Laser champion will have to finish as the top sailor from the North American region yet to qualify for the Olympics in order to realise his goal of reaching Rio.

“It’s going to be really difficult but I believe in myself,” Pimentel said. “Hopefully everything comes together at the right time and with a bit of luck I think I can get the spot.

“I know the venue quite well so there shouldn’t be too many surprises.”

Bermuda Red Bull Youth America’s Cup hopeful Wollmann also travelled to South America last year where she took part in a two-month training camp in Uruguay in preparation for her Olympic qualifying bid.

Like Pimentel, Wollmann must also finish as the top sailor from North America yet to qualify in order to punch her ticket to Rio.

“I have tried to put as little pressure on myself as possible so I can think clearly and smartly throughout the regatta,” she said.

Should Pimentel and Wollmann fall short in their Olympic bids there remains the possibility they can earn a wild-card to Rio.

The World Cup Regatta will feature 780 Olympic and Paralympic sailors from 64 nations competing across ten Olympic classes.