fifth races have highlighted Bermuda's performance so far at the World Optimist Dinghy Championships in Spain.

Doughty's sudden improvement came after earlier finishes of 32nd, 62nd and 42nd in fleets which are numbering upwards of 70.

Some 270 young sailors are competing in the championships, forcing organisers to split the entry into separate fleets for each race.

With 10 races still remaining, Doughty lies in 63rd position overall with hopes high that he can continue to improve.

Jesse Kirkland, meanwhile, leads the Bermuda team in 32nd position overall after finishes of 29-30-17-13-18.

Jonathan Kempe (22-63-30-37-45) is in 121st position, Husayn Brown (38-19-13-DNF-55) in 134th and Alan Frith (40-61-50-63-57) in 178th.

According to team manager Malcolm Kirkland "the boys are proving to be fast in testing conditions, but vulnerable on the start line, as expected.

"We have seen a major improvement overall, attributable to the world class coaching the team have received from Argentine Pablo Weber.'' As a team, Bermuda just missed qualifying for the World Team Championships. The top 16 countries advanced with Bermuda finishing 19th just behind New Zealand.

Five young Bermudians returned from the New England Optimist Championships in Rockland, Maine, last week where two of the novices enjoyed outstanding success.

Ten year-olds Elijah Simmons and Sean Bouchard finished second and third respectively in the novice fleet of 50 boats. It was their first ever regatta overseas, and both showed great promise, finishing equal on points but with Simmons taking second place by virtue of scoring more firsts.

In the championship fleet of 202 boats, Oliver Kempe, 12, placed 69th, Chloe Kempe, 13, finished 74th and 14-year-old Renee Black finished 103rd.

Oliver Kempe was in 12th position entering the last day but went over the start early in a black flag sequence and tumbled down the standings.

His best finish was seventh while both Chloe Kempe and Black had finishes in the top 20.

The event drew over 250 competitors from the US, Canada, South America, Virgin Islands, Ireland and Bermuda.