Bermuda's top junior sailors will today start competing at the International Optimist Dinghy Association (IODA) North American Championship in Kingston, Canada.

Coach Paul Doughty from the Royal Bermuda Yacht Club (RBYC) will lead a team of ten.

The team is made up of Ferdinand Arnold, Antonio Bailey, Michael Barit, Rory Caslin, Hannah Horsfield, Makai Joel, Sam Stan, Ceci Wollmann, Ellie Wollmann and Mikey Wollmann.

At last year's event, Bermuda had four sailors place in the top 30.

It's expected over 200 competitors consisting of the best sailors from the North and South American Continent will be among the fleet.

Kingston is known for strong winds and can be very cold.

Leading up to the regatta the Bermuda sailors have participated in regular clinics with Zdzislaw (Zizi) Staniul who is regarded as one of the top optimist coaches in the world.

The Kingston event runs until July 3.

Bermuda Optimist Dinghy Association (BODA) arranges weekly racing for their more experienced sailors and also organises the Green Fleet racing for novice sailors. For more information on BODA visit www.boda.bm