Bermuda's elite youth sailors will get the chance to measure up against their American and European counterparts on local surf when the Bermuda Optimist Dinghy Association (BODA) conduct an Advanced Opti Sailing Clinic in St.George's February 8-15.

The clinic will see youngsters ages 11 to 15 compete against two teams from the US and Europe coached by renowned coaches Tomas Kjellstrand and Zdzistaw Staniul who has produced two of the past four Optimist World Champions.

Representing Bermuda will be the Island's 12-member team that is currently preparing for April's South American Championships to be held in Salinas, Ecuador.

The team consists of Antonio Bailey, Ceci Wollmann, Micheal Barit, Kyle Burgess, Mackenzie Cooper, Emi Froud, Kalin Hiller, Makai Joell, Owen Siese, Raheim Steede, Dimitri Stevens and Ellie Wollmann.

All members of Bermuda's South American Championship-bound team qualified late last year during team trials held in the Great Sound.

Next month's clinic will encompass a range of drills geared towards the enhancement of boat handling, boat speed and tactics and strategy and will also see participants compete in a 'Round de Island' race.

Team leader and BODA sailor development chairman Paul Wollmann, explained: "These clinics are designed to help our sailors prepare for up coming International events.

"In order for our sailors to prepare for regattas, such as the South Americans, we need to increase the competition for our sailors."

He added: "During the clinic our sailors will gain insight from some of the world's top coaches but more importantly having top quality sailors will help our sailors raise their level in order to compete at an International level."

Participants skills will also be put to the test sailing in testing conditions off the shores of the East End during the week-long clinic.

"We have elected to have this clinic in St.George's as it gives us the opportunity to get the sailors out into the open sea.

"These conditions will be extreme and should push the kids and increase their confidence levels," Wollmann added.

"St George's also provides the opportunity to sail in the harbor if the wind or the seas are too strong.

"We plan on having 30 sailors participating and the clinic also includes an offshore fleet regatta, a long distance race and team racing in St George's harbour."

Also lending their expertise during the clinic, sponsored by the Bermuda Department of Tourism, are Bermuda coaches Paul Doughty and Pablo Sanguinetti.

"It's going to be lots of fun and a super big weekend and people are very keen about it." Doughty said.

"This is going to be very serious business and sailing in open water will add a completely new dimension to what our young sailors are normally used to."