Ready for Medal Races at Pan Am Games

Paracas, Peru (August 8, 2019) – The wind did not disappoint for the 2019 Pan Am Games as the southwesterly breeze filled in throughout the day ranging from 15-20 knots. This would be the sixth and final day as the 11 events wrapped the Opening Series, with the top half of each fleet (or a minimum of the top 5 boats) having qualified to compete in a single, double point Medal Races.

In the Laser Radial, Sarah Douglas (CAN) has been working tirelessly to stay in touch with leader Charlotte Rose (USA), with Douglas closing strong today by winning both races to trail now by only one point.

“I’m very happy with today’s racing!” shared Douglas. “I gave it my all and emptied the tank. It was great to come out with two first, which makes it very interesting for tomorrow’s race.”

Early in the week, US Team 49er athletes Andrew Mollerus and Ian MacDiarmid trailed just outside the podium, but after today’s races, they are tied for the Silver Medal with Argentina. With only one point separating them from the Canadians in fourth place, tomorrow’s 49er medal race will decide the podium.

“Our second half of the regatta has been quite a bit more intense than the first one,” said MacDiarmid. “We’ve come rumbling back, we’ve found our groove, and I’m just really excited to head out there and get it done tomorrow.”

Team USA’s Laser representative, Charlie Buckingham is no stranger to the Games experience, having represented Team USA at the Toronto 2015 Pan Am Games and the Rio 2016 Olympics.

“The whole atmosphere is very similar to the Olympics, the style of racing as well, so its super great experience for Tokyo.”

Tomorrow’s Laser Medal Race will also have high stakes for Team USA. Buckingham noted that, “It’s super tight at the top. Everything is on the table for tomorrow.” He currently stands in the Silver Medal position, three points from Gold and one point ahead of Bronze.

Tomorrow’s Medal Races will feature the Men’s and Women’s RS:X, Laser, Laser Radial, 49er, 49erFX, and Nacra 17 fleets. Getting a layday tomorrow is the Formula Kite, Lighting, Snipe, and Sunfish fleets which will compete in their respective Medal Races on August 10.

Details – Results – Tracking – Facebook – Schedule

Top North Americans:
Men’s RS:X (12 races): 2nd Pedro Pascual (USA)
Women’s RS:X (12 races): 4th Demita Vega (MEX)
Men’s Laser (10 races): 2nd Charlie Buckingham (USA)
Women’s Laser Radial (10 races): 1st Charlotte Rose (USA)
Open Sunfish (10 races): 2nd Luke Ramsay (CAN)
Mixed Snipe (10 races): 1st Ernesto Rodriguez/ Hallie Schiffman (USA)
Men’s 49er (10 races): 3rd Andrew Mollerus/ Ian MacDiarmid (USA)
Women’s 49erFX (10 races): 2nd Stephanie Roble/ Maggie Shea (USA)
Mixed Lightning (10 races): 4th Jody Swanson/ Ian Jones/ Skip Dieball (USA)
Mixed Nacra 17 (12 races): 1st Riley Gibbs/ Anna Weis (USA)
Open Formula Kite (18 races): 3rd Will Cyr (USA)

Team rosters: Canada – USA

August 3-8 – Opening Series
August 9 – Medal Races for RS:X (M), RS:X (F), 49er, 49erFX, Nacra 17, Laser Standard, and Laser Radial
August 9 – Reserve day for opening series races for Sunfish, Snipe, Lightning and Formula Kite
August 10 – Medal Races for Open Formula Kite, Mixed Snipe, Mixed Lightning, and Open Sunfish.

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: Sail Canada, US Sailing Team, Scuttlebutt