Adriana Penruddocke’s confidence is sky high after she secured a maiden podium finish in the ILCA UK National Open Series in Weymouth, England.

The Bermuda Olympic sailor held her own competing among a formidable international fleet on the way to clinching the bronze medal in the ILCA 6 class at last weekend’s regatta hosted by the Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy.

Penruddocke was a model of consistency. She produced three top-five finishes in the three-race series, including a first in the last race to put an exclamation mark on her impressive display.

“I’m thrilled with my performance and the first place finish in race three is a great confidence boost,” she told The Royal Gazette. “A special thanks to my coach, Shaun Priestley, for getting me to this point and his continued support.”

The Royal Bermuda Yacht Club sailor capitalised on the favourable conditions.

“Three races in great conditions of big waves and stable winds competing against some really high-quality sailors,” Penruddocke said.

“Conditions were fantastic and what we are used to seeing on the Olympic circuit with really nice waves.”

Penruddocke was equally as delighted to have held her own competing among a stellar fleet in the single-handed Olympic class dinghy.

“The calibre was really high with the British sailing team out in full force and the Irish and British Olympic representatives racing,” said the 25-year-old, who qualified for her maiden Olympic appearance competing at the 2023 Pan American Games in Chile.

Also among the 81-strong ILCA 6 fleet was former Bermuda resident Matilda Nicholls, who came up just short of a podium finish after being pipped by Penruddocke for third on a countback after both rivals finished tied with ten points.

Former RBYC sailor Nicholls was in third, three points ahead of Penruddocke, heading into the final race but was unable to hold on to the last spot on the podium.

“It’s great racing against the British sailing team and Matilda as I see them always on the Olympic circuit and occasionally get to train alongside them too,” Penruddocke said. “To beat most of them is a great confidence boost.”

Britain’s Hannah Snellgrove and Ireland’s Eve McMahon, who both competed against Penruddocke at last year’s Paris Olympics, won the gold and silver medals respectively.

Another sailor flying Bermuda’s flag at last weekend’s regatta in the ILCA 7 class was Olympic hopeful Sebastian Kempe, who finished 23rd among a fleet of 31.

The former youth world champion and RBYC sailor endured a tough time at the event having competed in one race after breaking his mast in the opening race of the three-race series.

“I went to power up the boat in big wind and big waves and the boat couldn’t handle it,” Kempe explained. “Sometimes it happens as I get stronger and stronger in the boat and continue to push the limits.”

The 20-year-old bounced back in brilliant fashion with an impressive and inspiring fifth place in the third and only race he competed in to offer a glimpse of what might have been.

“It was a solid race and I had lots of positives to take away from it,” Kempe said.

“Overall, I am not upset about the weekend and I can only control my controllables.”

English sailors made a clean sweep of the ILCA 7 podium, with Elliot Hanson, Michael Beckett and Finley Dickinson securing the gold, silver and bronze medals respectively.

Beckett is a two-times ILCA European Championships winner and Dickinson the 2023 ILCA Under-21 world champion.