Top Bermuda Laser sailor Zander Kirkland finished the Brazilian National Championships with a flourish over the weekend ? stringing together three top tens in a fleet of more than 50.

On the final day of sailing in the ten-race regatta off Rio de Janeiro, Kirkland placed ninth, eighth and tenth.

He had gone into the day in 17th position overall and likely improved on that, although last night his final place was not known.

His performance on the last day, he admitted, provided a welcome confidence boost ahead of this week's South and Central American Laser Championships which get underway tomorrow in Sao Sebastiao, Brazil.

"We had three races that counted (we actually sailed four, but one was abandoned at the end) and I nailed down three top tens!," wrote a delighted Kirkland in an e-mail forwarded to .

"The breeze was about 8-16 knots, choppy and shifty. I was sailing very well downwind and was holding my lane and playing shifts upwind ? conditions similar to racing in the Sound.

"It was a great way to finish up. It's nice to end on a strong note.

"I have not seen the results yet, so I don't know where I ended up but I imagine that I moved up some.

"It was a day where most of the small things went my way. In the race that didn't count I had around a 15th, so very consistent sailing all day.

"I didn't quite have the pace to hang with the very top guys and get hard left, but I sailed smart enough in the left middle to stay within reach. Downwind is where at times I was one of the fastest out there. I just need to be able to do it all the time because that could become a great weapon.

"So it's off to the South Americans tomorrow. Hopefully I can continue my momentum and keep on improving."