Tight action at Techno 293 North American Championship - Techno 293 North American Champs and Youth Olympic Games Qualifier'

The Techno 293 North American Championship, held Mar 5-7 in Merritt Island, Florida, saw eight tight races in 4-15 knot winds. This event was the North American country qualifier for the first IOC Youth Olympic Games to be held in Singapore, August 14-26. Two countries were selected in both youth mens and youth womens divisions.

Mexico dominated the youth men's in first, second, and fourth positions with Ignacio Berenguer Lleonart leading the way. Alejandro Monilor qualified Puerto Rico in the second country slot for the Youth Olympic Games by finishing third overall. Top American and fifth overall was 2007 Optimist National Champion, Ian Stokes, from Norfolk, VA.

The junior womens was dominated by the new Techno 293 North American Champion, Marion Lepert, from St. Francis YC in San Francisco. However, due to IOC eligibility requirements (she does not have her full U.S. citizenship), Marion was not eligible to qualify USA for the Youth Olympics. Therefore the top two qualifiers in junior women's are Audrey Caron from Canada and Margot Samson from USA (Clearwater, FL).

The future looks bright for USA in the Under 15 Division with 12 year old Rasmus Sayre (Vineyard Haven, MA) taking the North American Championship U15 crown, and hot shot Opti sailor, Luke Muller (Ft. Pierce, FL), in third.

These kids will be getting ready for the U.S. National Champs in San Francisco in July in preparation for the World Championships coming to St. Francis YC in 2011.

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