Progress made at Pan Am Games

Paracas, Peru (August 5, 2019) – The third day of the 2019 Pan American Games finally delivered sufficient wind conditions on the Bay of Paracas. Despite another postponement early in the day, all 11 events managed to score at least two races in an 8-to-12-knot southerly sea breeze during the afternoon.

Among the leaders is USA’s Will Cyr (Grosse Pointe, Mich.) in the Formula Kite class, which is making its debut in the Games. “I’d like to say that it’s a lot of pressure,” he noted, “but honestly, the practice over the last six months has been so exhausting, that sailing four races each day almost feels like a break.” Cyr posted all top three scores to lead by one point over Uruguay’s Nico Landauer.

The Formula Kite class is slated to be included in the Olympics Games Paris 2024, for the first time. “Without a doubt, this is the first step on a very tall ladder. For now, I’m looking forward to the rest of racing. I realize that I’m not going to win this event on the first day, so I’m just trying to stay calm and conservative.”

While not a new event, the format for the Snipe was shifted from open to mixed, with Ernesto Rodriguez (Miami, Fla.) and Hallie Schiffman (Sarasota, Fla.) holding a commanding lead after three races. While Rodriguez normally splits his time in the Snipe and Laser classes, Schiffman primarily sails the Women’s Laser Radial.

She mentioned that though the switch to sailing with a teammate is unnatural at first, she’s grateful to have the experience. “It’s difficult, but I’m really happy with how it’s going,” said Schiffman. “Something different with Ernesto is that he’s always on, all the time. The intensity never stops. That’s something that I can’t wait to bring back into my own Radial sailing.”

Details – Results – Tracking – Facebook

Top North Americans:
Men’s RS:X (5 races): 2nd Pedro Pascual (USA)
Women’s RS:X (4 races): 4th Demita Vega (MEX)
Men’s Laser (2 races): 1st Charlie Buckingham (USA)
Women’s Laser Radial (2 races): 2nd Sarah Douglas (CAN)
Open Sunfish (2 races): 4th Luke Ramsay (CAN)
Mixed Snipe (3 races): 1st Ernesto Rodriguez/ Hallie Schiffman (USA)
Men’s 49er (3 races): 2nd Alexander Heinzemann/ Justin Barnes (CAN)
Women’s 49erFX (4 races): 3rd Stephanie Roble/ Maggie Shea (USA)
Mixed Lightning (3 races): 2nd Jody Swanson/ Ian Jones/ Skip Dieball (USA)
Mixed Nacra 17 (4 races): 3rd Riley Gibbs/ Anna Weis (USA)
Open Formula Kite (4 races): 1st Will Cyr (USA)

Team rosters: Canada – USA

Sailing is among the 51 sports to be contested at the 2019 Pan Am Games, with the 11 medal events to be held from August 3 to 10 in Paracas, Peru. A total of 168 athletes will be competing in Men’s and Women’s RS:X, Men’s Laser, Women’s Laser Radial, Open Sunfish, Mixed Snipe, Men’s 49er, Women’s 49erFX, Mixed Lightning, Mixed Nacra 17, and Open Formula Kite. Held every four years, the Pan Am Games attracts athletes from nations of the Americas in the year before the Summer Olympic Games.

Source: US Sailing Team, Scuttlebutt