Campbell Patton continued his fine form of late during yesterday’s opening day of racing at the Youth Sailing World Championships in Corpus Christi, Texas.

The Bermudian’s campaign is off to an encouraging start after producing two top-ten displays in the two races contested on Corpus Christi Bay.

Patton crossed the line in tenth in the opening race of the regatta and seventh in the second race to end the day sixth among the 58-strong Laser Radial Boys fleet.

Argentina’s Juan Cardozo is the early leader, followed by Norway’s Uffe Tomasgaard in second and Australian Zac Littlewood in third. Eight points separate Patton from the third and final spot on the podium heading into today’s two races.

The 17-year-old sailor has enjoyed an outstanding year competing at international level.

He secured a spot on the podium after placing third in a fleet of 154 at April’s Laser Radial Youth European Championships in Balaton, Hungary and then followed that up with another impressive third-place finish in a fleet of 81 at this month’s US Laser National Championships in Houston, Texas.

This year’s Youth Sailing World Championships features 382 sailors between the ages of 16 and 19 from 66 nations.

The regatta is regarded as the pinnacle for young sailors who aspire to compete at the Olympics or at other prestigious events such as the America’s Cup.

Among the past winners who have gone on to illustrious careers are Great Britain’s Sir Ben Ainslie, the most decorated Olympic sailor with five medals in the Finn class and an America’s Cup winner with Oracle Team USA. Others include New Zealander Sir Russell Coutts who is a five-times America’s Cup winner and his compatriot Peter Burling, a two-times Olympic medallist in the 49er class and winning skipper of the 35th America’s Cup, which Bermuda played host to last year.