Rian Geraghty-McDonnell has chalked up the Optimist World Championship, that concluded yesterday in Thailand, as another valuable learning curve.

The promising sailor was Bermuda’s highest finisher in the individual fleet racing competition after finishing 16th in the 70-boat red flight.

“I’m honoured to have sailed in this regatta in tough conditions with the world’s best Opti sailors and have learnt so much and met loads of new friends,” Geraghty-McDonnell, who had a best showing of seventh in the first race of the final series, said.

The youth sailor has come on in leaps and bounds lately having also topped the local fleet at last month’s Optimist North American Championship in Toronto where he was sixth overall.

Also competing in the red flight were Sebastian Kempe, who finished 34th, Jordan Etemadi, in 38th, and Christian Ebbin, who finished 44th.

Jack Hildebrand, the island’s fifth and final representative in Thailand, finished 40th in the 70-boat green fleet while Bermuda finished 42nd among the 62 countries competing.

The championship came to anti-climatic end after yesterday’s final races were abandoned because of the lack of wind and the leaders of the various racing fleets declared the winners.

Italy’s Marco Gradoni was the overall winner with Malaysia’s Muhammad Fauzi Bin Kaman Shah taking silver and Costa Rica’s Mic Sig Kos Mohir bronze.

Spain’s Maria Perello was the top girl sailor and 23rd overall followed by Thailand’s Palika Poonpat, a cousin of 2010 World Champion and two-time Top Female Nopakkao Poonpat, who took silver and American Charlotte Leigh the bronze.

The United States retained their team racing title and also topped the Nation rankings.

“I wish to express my gratitude for the dedication and great support shown,” Thomas Whitcraft, president of the Optimist World Championship 2017 Thailand, said. “Thailand has hosted a memorable programme, as befits its reputation as one of the world’s great sailing nations. Our hope is that this competition will inspire young sailors from all countries and all backgrounds to continue with sailing, and raising their game to one day compete in Olympic competition.”

The Royal Varuna Yacht Club hosted this year’s championship which boasted a record field of 281 young sailors.