Jesse Kirkland was in the vanguard of Bermuda's challenge at the Optimist World Championships on Monday.

After seven races (with one drop) in the Canary Islands off Spain, he was fifth out of 221 competitors on 35 points. Kirkland had a first, a second, two fourths, an 11th and a 13th. He discarded his 14th place in the fifth race.

The leading low score was 17 points by Argentina's Sebastian Peri Brusa.

Oliver Riihiluoma was the second-best Bermudian in 39th place on 102 points while Sean Bouchard was 48th (121), Williams Hutchings 135th (218) and Cameron Pimental 160th (258).

The week-long event finishes on Saturday after individual and team competitions.