Coach Paul Doughty and Team Leader Barbara Hutchings lead a team of 16 Optimist sailors to the New England Championships of 12 races in Westport, Connecticut today.

The Championships are one of the largest North East regattas with 300-plus boats and provides an economical way for developing Bermudian sailors to experience big fleet traffic.

For most of the sailors this will be only their second Championship regatta after the North American Championships in Bermuda last month.

"These kids have been training hard in a really focused way," said Doughty.

"They are keen to learn new things. What more could a coach ask?"

In the Championship Fleet, Bermuda is represented by Jesse Kirkland, Mikado Burchall, Sean Bouchard, Oliver Rihilouma, Peter Miller, Elijah Simmons, Madeline Gardner, Ryan Saraiva, William Hutchings, Zander Dill, Mathew Sinclair, Cameron Pimentel and Eleanor Gardner.

While in the Green Fleet are Annabelle Gray, Alistair Hutchings and Malachi Simmons.

Racing continues through Wednesday.