Aug. 17, 2006
MARINA DEL REY, CA-- Incoming freshman sailor Kyle Rogachenko (Collegeville, PA.)became the first American to win the Laser Radial Youth Worlds Championships last weekend.
Rogachenko paced the 70-boat boys' Gold fleet by 10 points. Winds werelighter than Rogachenko preferred at 8 to 9 knots through the afternoon.
"I still had a drop left so I wasn't too worried," Rogachenko said. "It came down to whoever finished ahead of the other in the last race. I madesure I kept him covered until it didn't matter anymore."
Rogachenko was part of a five-person team of East Coast sailors coachedby Brett Davis of Naples, FL. The U.S. got three in the top 11.
Rogachenko, who finished eighth at last year's Laser Radial Youth Worldsin Fortaleza, Brazil, said his plan was to "Lool for win pressure becausethe shifts will come with the breeze."
Kyle Rogachenko's scoring:(16) 2-9-2-7-1-12-10-11-(29)-9 for 62 points.