Local sailors at Youth World Championships

Locals Andrew Mason and Chris Segerblom will represent the U.S. at the International Sailing Federation Youth World Championship in Aarhus, Denmark on Saturday.

More than 250 athletes from 60 countries are expected to compete in the event, which ends on July 19. There will be seven ISAF World titles at stake, along with the trophy awarded to the best-performing nation in the championship.

Mason, a recent Corona del Mar High graduate, and Segerblom, a junior-to-be at Newport Harbor next year, advanced by winning the U.S. Youth Multihull Championship in Long Beach on Jan. 21.

The duo came from behind on its Nacra 16 catamaran to beat Evan Miller and Taylor Reese of Panama City, Fla. Mason and Segerblom will need another standout performance if it plans to bring back the trophy.

The U.S. has never won the best-nation competition since it was introduced to the Youth Worlds in 1991. Australia is the defending champion. France has won it a record nine times.

To keep track of Mason and Segerblom throughout the event, check www.youthworlds2008.org daily.

— From staff reports