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Felipe Haddad was crowned champion after defeating Caio Swan de freitas 2-0 in the best of three final series. Both sailors come from Rio de Janeiro. In the Petit Final Philipp Grochtmann, from Porto Alegre, overcame Servio Andrade (BRA) 2-0 to clinch third place.

The Grace 3 Match Racing Regatta brought together eight Brazilian teams and one from Argentina featuring boys and girls up to 21 years.

The young crews liked the South American Championship very much saying that it was a great opportunity for them to join match race modality with the Elliott 6m boats used for races.

For Haddad, 20, and his crew of Gabriel Borgess and Nicolas Castro it was the first time they had raced in Elliott boats.

"The championship had perfect conditions because the boats were exactly the same and allowed lightning-fast maneuvers. Match racing helps young sailors formation and should be encouraged," said Haddad who will join the Brazilian navy sailing team, commanded by his brother Henrique who won the South American ISAF Nations Cup Regional Final, on Military World Games match racing modality in July in Rio de Janeiro.

The other South American representative besides Brazil was Santiago Rigoni from Argentina. Despite entering the tournament as the top-ranked skipper, 314th, he was eliminated on the first round.

"I think the teams were better trained than us," said the sailor from Buenos Aires. Prior this South American championship, Veleiros do Sul hosted a clinic given by Sally Barkow (USA) for new and experienced match race sailors. The clinic was sponsored by the Olympic Solidarity movement.