All-American sailor Jesse Kirkland is confident he and his St. Mary's College team-mates can defend their Inter Collegiate Sailing Association (ICSA) national dinghy team racing title in Newport, Rhode Island later this summer.

The Seahawks advanced to a second straight national championship last weekend, thanks in no small part to the superb efforts of Bermudian Kirkland (pictured) who led his team to the B Division title in New York.

Now the 20-year-old sophomore has set his sights on bigger and better things come June in Rhode Island.

"We are defending champs going into the team race nationals, with arguably a better team. But that said, you never know which team will come together for that event and win," Kirkland said.

"Last year we were not favorites for the regatta but were hot at the event. However, this year's nationals is the deepest in the history of the event because of the new format (two regional semi-finals), which eliminates teams from weak districts before they get to nationals.

"You never know going into such a tight event who will step up and take home the highly coveted ICSA Dinghy Championship.

"It is very intense racing as the whole scene is embraced by US sailing as a development tool for their Olympic sailors.

"Teams that win national titles join a very elite group of North American sailors who have gone onto great things from there."

Recalling his recent success sailing in the Club 420s at the Coed Dinghy National Championships East semi-final in the Big Apple, Kirkland said:

"There was a steady wind blowing down the inland lake (Lake Seneca). There was not a lot of opportunities and not many shifts, except on the sides of the course.

"It was pretty much boat speed on a short course and my goal was to hang in the top five, which worked out."