It was an unusually chilly start under grey skies for the Techno 293 South American Championships, a Nanjing 2014 Youth Olympic Games qualifier, in Mendoza, Argentina.
After two races on the opening day Lars Van Sommeren from the Netherlands, perhaps a little more accustomed to chilly conditions, leads the way after two second places.
Second overall is Mack van den Eerenbeemt from Aruba who took the bullet in the opening race but a fifth in the second.
Peruvian Maria Belen Bazo is not only first girl but has put in a very consistent performance to be in third place overall.
Leading the female charge in the under 15 division is Brazili's Larissa Ricci Schenker, heading the fleet and the first under 15 boy is Argentinian Martin Nores.
Aruban, Dutch and American sailors are attending the regatta to increase preparation for the Worlds in France and the Youth Olympic Games in Nanjing.
On the day Francisco Saubidet Birkner (ARG) said,
"So cold. The first race I was over but the second race was perfect. Tomorrow will be windy and not cold like today."
Raul Pasqualin is on site as a measurer and commented,
"It is really nice to see how windsurfing has changed in the last maybe 8 years. Techno Class has re-born windsurfing from the base which is most important for the kids - we have to focus on the kids - and here in South America it is happening like we planned. It is great to be here with a Brazilian fleet the best ever in our history and delighted also to see competitors for the first time from Venezuela and Chile; plus everyone from Aruba, Peru, the USA, Netherlands and Uruguay. Of course the largest number here is from Argentina . . . It's really fantastic to be here."
Results
View highlights from the opening day.