Young Bermuda sailor Jesse Kirkland will defend his North American Optimist title in Mexico next week.

Kirkland, currently ranked fourth in the world in the Optimist class, heads a local contingent that will bid for sailing supremacy at next week's international regatta.

Bermuda are also the defending North American Team Racing champions following last year's double success on local waters which saw the Island make a clean sweep of top honours.

However, repeating last year's dominating performance could be a tall order given that powerhouses Argentina, Brazil, Peru, USA, Mexico as well as Japan, Venezuela, New Zealand and Trinidad and Tobago will all be represented at the prestigious junior championships.

Bermuda's coach, Pablo Weber, is a native of Argentina whose team are heavily favoured to do well at the regatta.

In all, some 110 juniors from more than a dozen countries are set to compete in Mexico with racing scheduled to get underway on Monday.

Representing Bermuda will be Kirkland, Sean Bouchard, Elijah Simmons, William Hutchings, Oliver Riihilouma, Cam Pimental, Peter Miller, Ryan Saraiva, Eleanor Gardiner and Haley Powell, the latter two poised to compete for top honours in the female division.

"The North Americans and Worlds are my last two regattas in the Optimists (for those under the age of 16) and I want to go out feeling good," said a confident Kirkland yesterday. "I am 20 pounds heavier (than last year) so I am hoping for flatter waters."

Kirkland is also aware that some of the bigger nations will have their eyes firmly fixed on team Bermuda.

"We have some good team racers but other countries will be paying attention to us this year," he added.

The International Optimists Dinghy Association stage continental championships in North America, South America and Europe annually.

The Island's young sailors will also compete in the World Championships in Grand Canary following the North American Championships.