Five of the island’s top budding sailors will compete for Bermuda in the Optimist Dinghy World Championships in Portorož, Slovenia, next week.

Siblings Emma and Harry Brown, Thomas McBain, Heath Meyers and Jesse Savage will depart Bermuda on Saturday and head to Slovenia's Adriatic coast to compete from June 26 to July 2.

Coached by Pablo Weber with David Brown as team leader, the sailors are competing for the first time at the world championships and completed an intensive training programme. T

his included racing at the JK Pirat Portorož Easter regatta in April to familiarise themselves with the conditions in Slovenia.

“The valuable experience gained from competing in various conditions against some of the best sailors in Europe has been extremely beneficial as the team prepared for the World Championships,” read a statement from the Bermuda Optimist Dinghy Association.

“The familiarity with the venue, local conditions and international competition has set a strong foundation for continued improvement.”

Mark Soares, BODA president, declared the island’s team ready to compete against the best in the world.

“The participation of these sailors at the international championship level is a testament to the skill, dedication and resilience of Bermuda's young athletes,“ he said.

“Through BODA's high-performance programme, we remain committed to developing the next generation of world-class sailors.

“Under the expert guidance of national Coach Pablo Weber, our athletes are prepared not just to compete but to excel among the world's top Optimist sailors in this year's championship.

“We wish our sailors the very best as they take on this incredible challenge and represent Bermuda on the global stage. Their countless hours of training and unwavering dedication to prepare for this event are truly impressive and deserve the highest admiration.

“We are immensely grateful to the Bermuda Sailing Association, our local clubs as well as to our network of donors, parents and volunteers. Their steadfast support makes these transformative opportunities possible and motivates us to continue striving for excellence.”

Emma Brown is eagerly anticipating her maiden appearance at the worlds.

“I’m looking forward to making friends and seeing how different people’s lives are around the world,” she said.

“Since taking up the sport, I've become more confident and sailing has taught me to be more resilient as things don't always go your way.”

McBain cannot wait to expand his friendship list while acquiring more knowledge about the sport.

“I'm looking forward to making new friends and learning from the better sailors around the world,” he said.

Harry Brown believes taking up sailing has increased his competitiveness and enhanced his confidence.

“It has made me more competitive and confident,” the 15-year-old said.