While other elementary-school children celebrate Easter with egg hunts, 11-year-old Geoffrey Nelson of Heath will be representing the United States in the 23rd International Optimist Easter Regatta in the Netherlands.

Getting to sail in the March 21-24 event is quite an honor – it attracts 270 of the world's best sailors under the age of 16.

But Geoffrey doesn't intend to stop there.

"I want to be in America's Cup," said the Amy Parks Elementary School honor student. "Another option would be to compete in the Olympics with my brother if we could compete together in two-person boats."

Geoffrey qualified for the competition at an October regatta in Norfolk, Va. He finished in the top ranks among 280 junior sailors from across the country.

In the Netherlands, Geoffrey will represent Chandlers Landing Yacht & Tennis Club in Rockwall, piloting a 7-foot-long, single-person boat. The Easter Regatta will take place on Braassemermeer, a lake near the town of Roelofarendsveen.

Getting to sail as part of Team USA is a prestigious feat for the sixth-grader, who has won numerous awards in local and national sailing competitions.

"Most kids qualify for the national team when they are 14 or 15 years old," said his mother, Dawn Nelson.

Geoffrey and his brothers, Stephen, 13, and Zachary, 9, have been sailing for about two years. They get lots of support from their friends at Chandlers Landing.

"All the members have gotten behind them and celebrated with their winnings and commiserated their defeats," Mrs. Nelson said.

Member Gary Slodowick, in particular, has helped the junior sailors progress.

"Gary took them in and made a great friendship," Mrs. Nelson said. "He's a great mentor. They sail every Wednesday night in racing season on Lake Ray Hubbard."

Former Rockwall County Commissioner Scott Self, who also sails on Lake Ray Hubbard and has competed in races, said Geoffrey can expect "incredible" competition in the Netherlands.

Young sailors will come from New Zealand and France, where "the sport of sailing is like basketball over here," Mr. Self said.

But the young Heath sailor should be ready. "Geoffrey is out there practicing all winter long," Mr. Self said.

Geoffrey and his brothers have learned early how much time a competitive sport such as sailing can take.

"They put a ton of work into it; this is what they do on weekends," Mrs. Nelson said. "Sometimes it's hard. They do choose and make choices. They miss social events because they're already scheduled for other things."

On the other hand, the Nelsons have great opportunities to travel. Last summer, the family spent seven weeks on the road, towing boats on a trailer to regattas in the northern United States.

"We love it," Mrs. Nelson said. "Out on the lake or ocean isn't a bad way to spend your day."

The site of this month's regatta is only 15 kilometers from the North Sea.

"It's going to be windy," Mrs. Nelson said.

But that shouldn't faze Geoffrey.

"We see the boys out there [on Lake Ray Hubbard] while all the adults are saying it's too windy to go out," Mr. Self said.

By competing in regattas, Geoffrey is proving that he is a skilled contender who will be around awhile.

"He sails kind of different than other children – he's very much an adrenaline sailor," his mom said. "Experienced sailors watch him and say, 'Wow!'

"He's a competitor. ... It's just a gift."