Local pair lead in youth sailing world qualifier

Andrew Mason and Chris Segerbloom are holding their own in a standoff for first place in the International Sailing Federation’s U.S. Sailing Youth World Qualifier and Youth Multihull Championship.

Mason and Segerbloom, who live in Corona del Mar, are two of 84 sailors competing .

Mason and Segerbloom have been racing a Nacra 16 catamaran at Alamitos Bay Yacht Club in Long Beach as they try to advance to the ISAF Youth Sailing World Championship in Aarhus, Denmark.

Mason and Segerbloom have been racing in a dead heat with Evan Miller and Taylor Reiss of Panama City, Fla., since Saturday.

They held a slim one-point lead over Miller and Reiss when racing concluded Sunday afternoon.

Mason and Segerbloom are not only competing for a spot at the youth world championships in July, they’re also racing for U.S. Sailing’s Youth Multihull Championship, and the Arthur J. Stevens Trophy.

Saturday, Mason and Segerbloom, and Miller and Reiss both had first, second and third place finishes that separated them from the nearest competition by 10 points.

Racing will conclude today to determine which sailors advance to Denmark.

Teams are also competing in the 29 skiffs, the Laser radials, and 23 Laser classes.

— From staff reports