Advanced Optimist Dinghy sailors Mackenzie Cooper, Owen Siese and Kalin Hillier all did the island proud last week competing against some of the world's elite at this level.

Cooper placed 12th in a fleet boasting 102 sailors at last week's Mar Del Plata Sailing Week Regatta in Argentina while on local shores Siese and Hillier turned in dominant displays as Bermuda emerged victorious in the inaugural 'Round De Island' and team fleet races held in St.George's Harbour.

All three sailors will represent Bermuda at April's South American Championships in Salinas, Ecuador and current form suggests they are peaking at the right time.

Cooper's sailing career has taken flight in recent months and last week he carried on in the same vein in South America, climbing as high as third in the standings at one stage before eventually falling off the pace in what amounted to a "physically demanding" regatta held in strong currents and rolling seas.

"I was really pleased with my performances , it was a very tough regatta," he said.

Coach Pablo Weber added: "Mackenzie's results were excellent and he represented Bermuda well."

Considered among the Island's top future prospects, Cooper is Bermuda Optimist Dinghy Association (BODA) Fall Series champion and also led the fleet during last fall's South American Trials last fall.

He also currently leads the local Optimist fleet in the BODA Worlds and North American Trials by two points over nearest rival Dimitri Stevens, another of the Island's top future prospects.

American Chris Williford, who finished runner up during last October's Renaissance Re Junior Gold Cup, went one better in Argentina last week by winning the Mar Del Plata Regatta.

Meanwhile, Siese and Hillier held their end of the bargain against top sailors from Europe and the US during BODA's Advanced Opti Camp held in the East End last week where locals dominated proceedings.

Saltus Grammar School student Hillier, also a member of Bermuda's South American Championship team, pipped current European Girls Opti champion Paulina Rothlauf of Germany on a tie-break at the conclusion of the four-race series in breezy conditions.

Hillier was declared the winner on account of having posted two bullets compared to his rival's one.

Siese then capped off a memorable week for Bermudian sailors the very next day when he helped the Island's elite team to top honours in the team fleet racing event along with Stevens and Rahiem Steede.

Bermuda's second-string team of Hillier, Kyle Burgess and Sam Stan placed second followed by Germany in third respectively.

It was a dominant display that even left outspoken coach Paul Doughty short on words.

"The local kids really came on and did their thing, and what is really important is that even the little ones at the back (of the fleet) improved immensely," he said.

"I can honestly tell you that there is big progress being made in the Bermuda fleet right now, and I am very happy with where we are going direction-wise."