Bermuda's national Optimist champion, Sam Stan, had a 12th place finish yesterday to go along with a superb first place in the Roja division during Sunday's second race at the South American Optimist Championships in Uruguay and now sits in 58th position among the huge fleet of 168 boats.

But unfortunately Stan had an OCS in the first race which has hurt his early standings during the championships being sailed on the Bay of Maldonado.

An OCS (on the course side), refers to where a boat is when the starting signal goes. If you are OCS, you are on the wrong side of the line, and will be penalised for an early start.

Stan was in good company on Sunday as a number of the sailors also had an OCS in the first and second races.

Six of Bermuda's rising stars flew to Uruguay last week to compete in the championships and Stan will know that he will be able to drop that OCS, which was recorded as a 57th place finish, after six races are recorded.

Ferdinand Arnold finished in 38th place in the third race of the regatta yesterday after having a superb 17th place in Sunday's opening race. But he also had an OCS in the second race to leave him in 111th place.

Mikey Wollmann, who is only nine years old, was sitting in 117th place after yesterday's racing. He placed 48th in the third race after recording finishes of 27 and 43 on Sunday.

Rory Caslin had finishes of 46, 49 on Sunday and 43 yesterday to leave him in 151st place while Ceci Wollmann is right behind him in 152nd place with finsihes of OCS, OCS and a 25th yesterday.

Ellie Wollmann who also had two OCS recorded against her on Sunday, managed a 46th place yesterday.

Leading the huge fleet is Felipe Rondina from Brazil with finishes of 4, 1 and 5 in his fleet while Argentina's Ignacio Varisco is second with finishes of 3, 3, and 6 and third place is Victor Damitio also from Argentina with finishes of 9, 2 and 4.

Coach Pablo Sanguinetti from the Royal Hamilton Amateur Dinghy Club is with the Bermuda team at what is considered to be the second toughest regatta in the world for sailors under the age of 15.

Most of the sailors competing in these championships will be from North and South America and the conditions on the Punta del Este are known to be tough with very strong winds and high waves.

To get ready for the championships Bermuda's sailors also participated in regular clinics with Zdzislaw Staniul who is regarded as one of the top Optimist coaches in the world.

He ran week-long clinics for both the sailors and local coaches and his previous charges have included numerous national champions and IODA world champions.

The racing will conclude on Saturday, April 3.