Sebastian Kempe has claimed early bragging rights among Bermuda’s sailors at the Optimist World Championship after the opening day of racing in Limassol, Cyprus, yesterday.

The Saltus Grammar School pupil, one of five local sailors competing at the regatta, is in 50th position among an overall fleet of 264 after posting finishes of 21st and tenth.

Second among the local fleet and 110th overall is Christian Ebbin, who was crowned senior fleet champion at the Volvo Gill Optimist British Nationals and Open Championship in Plas Heli, Pwllheli, North Wales, earlier this month. The Somersfield Academy student made a promising start after placing sixteenth in the opening race but dropped down the standings after placing 42nd in the second.

Magnus Ringstead, who also attends Saltus, is third among the Bermudians and 198th overall with finishes of 62nd and 35th.

In 208th is Leyli Walker, who also attends Somersfield and is the granddaughter of late local sailing legend Jordy Walker.

She finished 46th and 54th in the single-handed Optimist dinghy.

Ahzai Smith, of Warwick Academy, has already savoured success on the international stage after winning the O’Pen Bic National Championships in New Zealand last year. He is 249th after finishes of 59th and 58th.

Kempe, the son of former Royal Bermuda Yacht Club Commodore Somers Kempe, and Ringstead also competed at the Volvo Gill Optimist British Nationals and Open Championships, where they finished fifteenth and 24th, respectively.

Marco Gradoni, of Italy, leads the overall fleet in Cyprus while Anja von Allmen, of Switzerland, is the top girl and eighth overall.

The regatta, which runs until September 6, includes a qualifying series and a final series. It is being hosted by the Famagusta Nautical Club.