It was another memorable day of competition at the 2026 IODA Optimist World Championship, combining extreme patience, unwavering perseverance, and ultimately spectacular sailing conditions on the historic waters of Tangier Bay.
The Royal Yacht Club de Tanger provided a breathtaking yet technically demanding backdrop for nearly 300 of the world’s finest young sailors, with shifting Atlantic currents and a heavy swell pushing the fleet to its absolute limits.
Leading the line for Bermuda’s young delegation was the ever-impressive Thomas McBain. Displaying magnificent tactical awareness, McBain anchored himself firmly among the global elite, wrapping up his racing block in a superb 26th place overall with a highly commendable net score of 48 points.
Further down the heavily congested international field, it proved to be a steeper learning curve for his island teammates as they battled through dense mid-fleet traffic.
Miguel Leite spearheaded the chasing Bermudian pack to secure 156th place overall with 136 net points, finishing just ahead of Rex Henagulph, who staged a gritty afternoon comeback to occupy 163rd position with 146 net points.
Rounding out the scorecards for Team Bermuda, Jesse Savage fought through difficult early shifts to finish in 207th place with 185 net points, while teammate Heath Meyers locked down 209th place overall with 187 net points.
With more fleet racing on the horizon before the tournament transitions into high-stakes Team Racing, the young Bermudian squad will look to carry today’s hard-earned momentum forward on the African coast.
