overall in the 51-strong Laser Radial fleet in the Orange Bowl Junior Olympic regatta in Florida.

Although 17-year-old Kirkland did not win any of the 11 races held in Biscayne Bay over four days of moderate winds, he finished consistently well, despite capsizing three times.

Kirkland felt his upwind speed was unsurpassed, but was vulnerable downwind to the winning Pueto Rican sailor.

The Bermudian teen was one of 20 young sailors from the Island competing in the Orange Bowl.

Also in the Laser Radials, 17-year-old William Thompson placed 22nd and 17-year-old Alex Lines 33rd.

In the 131-boat Championship Optimist fleet, 14-year-old James Doughty performed at a consistently high level and won the 11th of the 12 races to lead home the Bermuda fleet in fifth place overall. Alan Frith, 15, took 17th place overall and managed six top-10 finishes. And 13-year-old Edward Thompson showed he is getting the knack of sailing in big fleets with 20th overall.

Jonathan Kempe, 13, was rusty on the starting line and finished just behind Thompson in 23rd.

Jesse Kirkland performed much better than his 25th place overall finish would suggest. He lost three of five first-place finishes to disqualifications -- twice for starting early.

Husayn Brown, 13, was 51st, leading home a mid-fleet pack of Oliver Kempe (57th), Martin Danielak (59th), Chloe Kempe (61st), Geoffrey Smith (64th) and Rajae Woods (65th).

James Feathers, 12, and Elijah Simmons, nine, achieved a creditable 82nd and 83rd in their first overseas championship regatta.

In the Optimist Green Fleet reserved for first-year sailors, brothers Jonathan White, 12, and Dominique White, 12, nephews of Olympian Lee White, romped home first and second out of 24 boats. Nine-year-old Marc Smith finished 14th.