Fifty windsurfers from Canada, Puerto Rico, Argentina, and the U.S. gathered last weekend at the Vineyard Haven Yacht Club to compete in the Techno 293 National, Kona North American, and Olympic RS:X East Coast Championships. The Techno 293s were part of U.S. Sailing’s Junior Olympic Festival.
Strong winds prevailed Friday and Saturday, testing the high wind expertise of the sailors. Miami Yacht Club kids dominated the Techno 293 age groups, and the top kids are traveling on from Martha’s Vineyard to represent the U.S. in the World Championships in Sopot, Poland, starting next week. More than 400 Techno 293 competitors are expected in Poland.
Miami’s Geronimo Nores won the Techno 293 Class overall, while local favorites from the Sayre family took the other classes. Rasmus Sayre (16, a junior at MVRHS) won the Olympic RS:X class, narrowly edging Alejandro Monllor from Puerto Rico, with Solvig Sayre (21) in third overall. Their father, Nevin Sayre, showed his comfort in high winds on local waters by scoring all bullets in the 26 board Kona One Design Class. Nevin was Pro U.S. Windsurfing Champion in 1980s and 1990s and ranked #2 in the World in 1989, ’90, and ’91.
Eight races were also held off the beach for novice racers divided into Silver and Bronze fleets. Three other local windsurfers — Mikey Cosgrave (11), Schuyler St. Germain (13), and Sage White (15) — topping those classes. Special recognition goes to the team from American Yacht Club whose infectious enthusiasm carried the day in the Bronze fleet.
