Veteran Malcolm Smith and Cameron Pimentel have been selected as Bermuda's respective senior and junior Sailors of the Year.

They were recognised last night at an awards ceremony at the Royal Hamilton Amateur Dinghy Club following a vote taken by the Bermuda Sailing Association Board.

Sailors were nominated based on their success in local and international races during last year's sailing season.

There were no nominations this year for Female Sailor of the Year.

Smith, who has enjoyed success in both the Sunfish and Laser classes, placed first in the 2008 International Race Week Regatta, first in September's Cable & Wireless Laser Regatta and later last year captured the Laser National Championships.

He also represented Bermuda at the Sunfish South American Championships and the Sunfish Worlds, in which he placed second and fourth respectively. He's a former World Sunfish champion.

Pimentel sails in Laser Radials and performed exceptionally well in Open-class competitions in which youth and adults race together.

Last year he was the top Bermudian in several international competitions, including the Orange Bowl, Mid-Winters West and the Canadian Laser Nationals.

At the Canada regatta he also earned the distinction of being named Canadian Youth Champion and Nova Scotia Youth Champion.

Somers Cooper, President of Bermuda Sailing Association, said yesterday: "We are tremendously proud of the level of skill and success that both Malcolm and Cameron have achieved.

"Not only are they strong competitors here in Bermuda but they are also very competitive while representing Bermuda in the international sailing arena. Their accomplishments are a real statement about the calibre of sailing talent we have here on the island."