ANTIGUANICE YACHTING INSIDER NEWSLETTER

The fleet lines up ready for the start.

Two of Antigua's youth sailors are currently participating in the Byte CII North American Championship and Youth Olympic qualifier (North American and Caribbean) in Jensen Beach, Florida racing Laser Radials.

The qualifying procedure is that the top ranked male competitor from the first four (4), different nations in the final scoring, excluding any nation that may have previously qualified in the 2013 World Championships, shall qualify that nation for a male position in the singlehanded sailing discipline of the Youth Olympic Games as per the ISAF Qualification System.

After two races on Thursday, February 28, Rhone Kirby stands in fourth place and Jules Mitchell is in 21st place.  USA holds first place, the Cayman Islands is in second place, Bermuda is in third place and Antigua is in fourth place.  There are still up to eight more races to complete but if Rhone Kirby is able to hold onto or better his fourth place position, he will qualify Antigua for a male position in the 2014 Youth Olympic Games to be held in August in Nanjing, China.

Antigua's Rhone Kirby (closest to mark) giving it is all at the Youth Olympic Qualifier in Florida.

This Championship qualifies the nation and does NOT automatically qualify the sailor. The sailor finally selected for the Games will be chosen by the ISAF Member National Authority (MNA) of the qualified nation which in Antigua's case is the Antigua Sailing Association.

Congratulations to Rhone Kirby and Jules Mitchell for their outstanding performance so far and best of luck with the remainder of the regatta.  Go Antigua!!