The 2002 Colonial Group North American Optimist Championships get underway today in the Great Sound where 21 of the Island's top sailing prospects will compete against some of the world's elite juniors.

The locals will be up against the best from the US, Canada, Mexico, Uruguay, Brazil, Argentina, US Virgin Islands and Japan during a week-long regatta which will feature 12 long-course races.

The 120-boat fleet will be divided into four groups of 30 with the lowest points deciding the winner in each. On Wednesday team racing begins with each country featuring teams of four.

Spearheading Bermuda's bid for glory will be the impressive Jesse Kirkland who placed a remarkable fourth during the recent World Optimist Championships held off Corpus Christi, Texas.

According to event chairman Paul Doughty, the Optimist class is not only regarded as highly competitive but more significantly is considered as the Olympic development boat.

"It is the development class. It's the biggest dinghy class with over 350,000 Optimists worldwide," said Doughty.

"Bermuda has over the past five years developed its young sailors in a very respectable way and is very much respected in the Optimist world as one of the best small countries for producing quality sailors.

"And we hope with this event to produce a quality regatta as well.

"The intention of the race committee is to get off up to four races on Monday (today), Tuesday, and on Wednesday. We invite anybody to come out to watch the team races because it's a very good spectator sport."

Racing begins today at 11 a.m. in the Great Sound.

Representing Bermuda will be: Sean Bouchard, Mikado Burchall, Libby Brewin, Martin Danielak, Leonard DaSilva, James Feathers, Eleanor Gardner, Madeline Gardner, Jonathan Kempe, Oliver Kempe, Jesse Kirkland, Peter Miller, Cam Pimentel, Haley Powell, Oliver Rihiilouma, Ryan Saraiva, Elijah Simmons, Geoffrey Smith, Edward Thompson, Katrina Williams, Rajae Woods, Zander Dill, William Hutchings and Matthew Sinclair.

Zan Kirkland has finished the 2002 Laser European Championships in 97th place out of a 138-boat fleet.

Kirkland placed a creditable ninth and had two finishes in the 40s in his last three races.

"I got some serious tactical lessons," said Kirkland. "I now know the standard firsthand I will try to reach it in the next two years."

Kirkland's next port of call is the UK Nationals in Plymouth starting today.