The Bermuda national Optimist sailing team completed the fourth and final day of the North American Optimist Sailing Championship in Ponce, Puerto Rico yesterday.

A total of 189 sailors from 22 countries competed in the prestigious regatta, where the top-ranked Bermudian was Jason Saints in 23rd position.

Heavy thunder and showers prompted a two-hour delay to the start of the final day of racing, with sailors eventually forced a half mile out to sea in strong winds to do battle in the final two races.

The team produced several top ten finishes in extreme conditions.

Kalin Hillier led the way in the first race by rounding the windward mark in fourth place and continued to maintain his place at the front of the pack throughout the race.

Kyle Burgess, Ryan Powell and Connor Astwood also put in impressive performances in the heavy conditions to show the strength and depth of the Bermuda sailing team.

The advanced sailors, Haley Powell, Jordan Saints, Jason Saints, James Anfossi, Anthony Bailey, Johnny Norfleet, Blake Burgess and Lance Fraser all showed their skills in being able to handle the heavy conditions as well.

In the female category Powell finished in second, 69th overall.

?I?m extremely proud of the entire team?s performance throughout this year?s championship,? said Bermuda Optimist Dingy Association president Eddie Saints.

?They were even better when you consider that the conditions on the final day of racing the conditions were incredibly hard. All our sailors took on the heavy conditions with confidence and vigour and showed the other nations that Bermuda continues to produce the highest quality of junior sailors for such a small country.

?Our future in international sailing is very bright.?Jason Saints (23rd), Jordan Saints (29th), Anthony Bailey (53rd), James Anfossi (64th), Haley Powell (69th), Johnny Norfleet (90th), Blake Burgess (102nd), Kalin Hiller (114th), Lance Fraser (123rd), Connor Astwood (137th), Kyle Burgess (156th), Ryan Powell (169th)