The cream of Bermuda?s Optimist sailors head south this weekend to do battle in the South American Optimist Sailing Championships in Argentina.

Fifteen sailors, aged from 12 to 14, will represent the Island in the prestigious Buenos Aires regatta from March 17 to 27. The South American Championship is regarded as the world?s second-most competitive Optimist event behind the World Optimist Sailing Championship to be held in Switzerland later this year.

Bermuda will compete against 173 sailors from Chile, Peru, Argentina, Columbia, USA, Brazil, Mexico, Uruguay, Malaysia, Paraguay, Guatemala, Venezuela and Ecuador. The Island will be defending the team title.

?We are very pleased to be able to send our national Optimist team to this important event that will expose our young sailors to one of the world?s most competitive racing events in this class,? said BODA president Eddie Saints.

?The Bermuda team is the current holder of the South American Nations Cup which is a team match racing series among all the participating countries at the South American Championships. We are fielding a very strong and experienced team who are expected to do well against the very competitive South American countries. This event will also serve to prepare our young sailors for the World Championship in Switzerland in July of this year, when five of these sailors (Oliver Riihiluoma, Sean Bouchard, Jason Saints, Cameron Pimentel and Elijah Simmons) will represent Bermuda.

Members of the Bermuda team are: Ryan Saraiva, Cameron Pimentel, Anthony Bailey, William Hutchings, Oliver Riihiluoma, Eleanor Gardner, Jason Saints, Jordan Saints, Sean Bouchard, James Anfossi, Johnny Norfleet, Martin Finegan, Elijah Simmons, Joshua Greenslade and Lance Fraser.

They will be accompanied by Rene Bouchard (team leader), Judy Gardner (country representative) and Pablo Webber (coach).