By the end of today, five young Bermudian sailors will have earned the right to compete in the Optimist World Championships, writes Gayle Alleyne.

The race for this honour will truly be on when trials for the Worlds as well as for the North American Championships continue in the Great Sound.

Sean Bouchard is leading the regatta after five races (one drop) on four points with Oliver Riihilouma (10 points), Cameron Pimentel (14), Jesse Kirkland (17) and Elijah Simmons (20) all in the reckoning. These are expected to remain as the front-runners with William Hutchings, who is currently sixth on 21 points, also standing a strong chance of climbing the standings.

On the weight of their performances last season, Kirkland and Bouchard would be favoured. Kirkland placed fourth at the Worlds and won the North American and Orange Bowl titles while Bouchard is the reigning New England champion.

Thirty-three sailors are competing in the trials with Eleanor Gardner the top female; now in eighth position on 25 points.

The top five finishers qualify to represent the Island at the Worlds in the Canary Islands in July while the top 15 qualify for the continental regatta being held in Mexico also in July.

Provisions allows for 18 persons to represent a country at the North American Championships once three are of the opposite gender from their other 15 compatriots. This regulation was instituted a few years ago by the International Optimist Dinghy Association (IODA) to bolster female sailing,

Conditions are expected to be a bit windier - 15-20 knots, out of the south-east - today than last weekend which should add to the competitiveness.

In related news, 11 children leave the Island next Saturday to compete at the South American Championships in Uruguay.