Bermuda’s Nicole Stovell did her chances of securing a spot on the podium no harm on day three of the RenaissanceRe Junior Gold Cup on the Great Sound yesterday.

Stovell climbed one spot from fourth to third in the girls fleet and will be looking to make one last push during tomorrow’s final three fleet races to be held in Hamilton Harbour.

Only one point separates the Royal Bermuda Yacht Club Academy sailor from second placed Antonia Schultheis, of Malta. Germany’s Anna Barth regained the lead in the girls fleet from Schultheis to move into ninth overall.

Stovell has all but claimed bragging rights among the local girls fleet having put considerable distance between herself and second and third placed Leyli Walker and Laura Hupman.

Meanwhile, the battle for the local victory among the boys fleet is set to go down to the wire with only ten points separating leader Magnus Ringsted from third placed Christian Ebbin.

Ringsted is tied on points with Sebastian Kempe, the day one leader, but is ahead on a tiebreak. Ebbin is still within striking distance of reeling in his Bermuda Optimist Dinghy Association national squad team-mates.

Argentina’s Jose Rother maintained his lead of the overall fleet after producing another flawless display, which included two firsts in yesterday’s three races.

Likewise, Uruguay’s Santiago Pachecho remained in second and Sweden’s Calle Lagerberg in third.

A new Junior Gold Cup fleet racing champion will be crowned this year as last year’s winner Mia Nicolosi, of St Thomas, is not back to defend her title.

Nicolosi made regatta history at last year’s event after becoming the first girl to win the event.

This year’s Junior Gold Cup boasts one of the largest female fleets in recent history. Of the 13 girls competing, seven are from Bermuda.

Today will see the sailors shift their attention to the Team Racing Championship to be held in Hamilton Harbour, where the hosts will be keen to duplicate this summer’s podium display at Canadian Optimist Championships in Halifax, Nova Scotia.

Bermuda finished runners up in Halifax after losing to hosts Royal Nova Scotia Yacht Squadron’s A team in the best-of-three final sail off.

The five-member team consisted of Kempe, Walker, Hupman, Millie Lewis and Rachael Betschart who are all competing in this year’s Junior Gold Cup.