Five of Bermuda's contingent in the South American Optimist Dinghy Championships finished in the top half of the fleet.

The Island sent a seven-strong team to Ecuador last week and they excelled in an entry of 166 sailors.

Jesse Kirkland, 14, rallied to record a first, fourth and a fifth in the last three races to finish ninth overall.

In doing so he overhauled team-mate Ed Thompson, 15, who finished 12th.

Elijah Simmons, 11, surpassed his intended goal of a top 100 finish by coming in 51st and not far behind was the other lightweight flyer Sean Bouchard, 11, who came in 72nd.

Kirkland said afterwards: "Elijah and Sean scare me. They now have world class speed and are starting to figure out the wind shifts."

"Veteran" Jonathan Kempe, 15, performed well for a physically big sailor, finishing 79th.

Geoffrey Smith placed 117th and Rajae Woods, the largest of the contingent, came in 153rd.

Coach Paul Doughty said: "Don't underestimate Geoffrey and Rajae. They went down to Ecuador to gain experience in large fleet traffic knowing they would suffer in the light air.

"They are big, strong sailors who qualified in 20-plus knots for our Worlds team. Remember, Rajae weighs twice what Elijah or Sean does."

Doughty said he expected the pair's performances to surge at the World Championships in Texas later where heavy air is forecast.

Bermuda's Worlds team of Kempe, Thompson, Kirkland, Smith, Woods and alternate Oliver Kempe will undergo five days of intensive training this week at the championship venue in Corpus Christi, Texas.