Bermuda's young sailors made a robust start to their defence of the North American Optimist Team Racing title on Monday in Mexico.

After the first day of racing in Valle de Bravo, Team Bermuda led the regatta and also boasted two sailors in the top five and seven in the top half of the 123-competitor event.

Bermuda won the team championship on home surf last year in Hamilton Harbour. They edged out Optimist giants Mexico and North America in a tie-break.

In Monday's races, Sean Bouchard earned a first, second and third and was leading the fleet after the first day. Defending champion, 15-year-old Jesse Kirkland, posted a first, second and 14th while Cameron Pimentel notched a fourth in his first race.

The day was disappointing for three other sailors - Oliver Riihiluoma, William Hutchings and Peter Miller - who were in second, third and fifth respectively, with one leg remaining in their third race when it had to be abandoned. The race committee called the boats in because of nearby lightning.

That race was expected to be re-sailed yesterday along with the three more races. Four other Bermudians, Elijah Simmons, Haley Powell, Eleanor Gardner and Ryan Saraiva had mixed results.