Bermuda sailors Zan Kirkland and Sara Lane Wright are enduring mixed fortunes at the Laser Midwinter East regatta being held this week at the Clearwater Yacht Club in Florida.

Kirkland, competing in the Full Rig Laser, got off to an encouraging start in his first race on Thursday when he placed seventh in a fleet of 80 but then slipped to 36th in the second race to finish 18th overall.

Wright, in the Laser Radial class, posted finishes of 30th and 49th to end the opening day in 45th place in a fleet of 76.

Yesterday organisers had hoped to fit in in four races but by early afternoon it was raining with little or no wind and the sailors were still onshore.

It wasn't known last night whether any further races had been sailed.

Of his first day performance, Kirkland said: "The race course was extremely long in distance and it was crucial to get to the left which put a huge premium on the start.

"I hit the first start well. I didn't hit the second and kept getting forced to the right.

"Speed-wise my acceleration off the line is not great which comes from lack of time in the boat, but I was pleased with my straight-line speed."

Kirkland is staying with US national team sailor Brett Davis who coached the Bermuda optimist sailors in 1987.

Davis was leading the regatta after the first day with finishes of first and fourth.

Racing continues today and tomorrow.