The Bermuda Optimist Dinghy Association (BODA) has announced the sailors to represent the island at the 2026 Optimist North American Championship.

The event, which takes place from May 21 to May 28 in Halifax, Canada, is hosted by the Royal Nova Scotia Yacht Squadron. This year’s regatta will feature more than 200 sailors from around North America, with Bermuda's nine representatives competing among some of the best in the region

Heath Meyers (Royal Bermuda Yacht Club), Jesse Savage (Royal Hamilton Amateur Dinghy Club), Rex Henagulph (RBYC), Calypso Coulter (RBYC), Ishmael Dill (RBYC), Elaine Jones (RBYC), Walker Smith (RBYC), Alfie Jansma (RBYC) and Miguel Leite (RBYC) have made the trip, alongside coach Pablo Weber, team leader Steve Smith and country representative Rinear Coulter.

The team has successfully completed an intensive training programme both in Bermuda and overseas, including competing in Palamos, Spain, in February and then the JK Pirat Portoroz Easter Regatta in Slovenia in April.

The valuable experience gained from competing in various conditions against some of the best sailors in Europe has been extremely beneficial as the team got valuable time on the water with larger fleets, especially on the start lines and overall exposure to International Optimist sailing.

“The participation of these sailors at the international championship level is a testament to the skill, dedication and resilience of Bermuda's young athletes,” said a spokesperson for BODA.

“Through BODA’s High-Performance Programme, we remain committed to developing the next generation of world-class sailors. We wish our sailors the very best as they take on this incredible challenge and represent Bermuda on the global stage. Their countless hours of training and unwavering dedication to prepare for this event are truly impressive and deserve the highest admiration.

“Thank you to the Bermuda Sailing Association, our local clubs as well as to our network of donors, parents and volunteers. Their steadfast support makes these transformative opportunities possible and motivates us to continue striving for excellence.”