Adriana Penruddocke made a major breakthrough in her career after capturing one of the national titles at the Bermuda Laser Open National Championships last weekend.

The Southampton Solent University freshman upstaged multiple national champion Brett Wright in a battle for supremacy in the Laser Radial fleet.

With the two rivals tied after the opening day of racing in the Great Sound on Saturday, it all came down to a match race series between them, which Penruddocke secured with a race to spare the next day.

“Last year I was third in these championships and the year before that was eighth, so it feels very good to finally win,” the 18-year-old said.

“It feels really good after all the training I put in overseas. I’m at university and fortunate enough to be competing with the British squad, so that helps as well.”

As well as being crowned national champion, Penruddocke, who is studying yacht design at university, also claimed one of the spots for the NatWest Island Games in Gibraltar next summer.

“I’m looking forward to the Island Games,” she said. “They have four spots but, as the first, I get first pick whether to go or not.”

Penruddocke also hopes to compete at the Olympic Games in the future. “That’s always in the future; building up to it,” she said.

“Not 2020 [in Toyko], as I have to qualify the country first and that’s too late now. But maybe the next one [in Paris in 2024].”

Penruddocke, who has international experience under her belt, having competed at the Youth World Sailing Championships in Corpus Christi, Texas, and the Youth Laser Radial World Championships in Kiel, Germany, has competed in the Laser Radial for the past three years.

Penruddocke was one of two women to claim national titles as Leyli Walker, the grand daughter of late sailing legend Jordy Walker, took top honours in the 4.7 fleet.

Benn Smith, the son of former World Sunfish champion and Olympian Malcolm Smith, won every race in the Laser Standard to claim the title.