Please select your home edition
Edition
V-DRY-X

Team USA sailors line up in podium positions at Pan American Games

by US Sailing 5 Aug 2019 21:01 PDT 3-9 August 2019
Will Cyr - USA Open Formula Kite - Pan American Games 2019 © US Sailing

Day three of the Pan American Games Lima 2019 sailing events finally delivered the conditions that sailors were hoping to see on the Bay of Paracas.

After another postponement early in the day, every class managed to score at least two races in an 8-to-12-knot southerly sea breeze this afternoon. Now that each fleet has some races in the books, Team USA is leading three fleets with promising results across the board.

Pan American Games Sailing U.S. Team Standings after Day 3:

  • Men's Laser - 1st, Buckingham
  • Mixed Snipe - 1st, Schiffman/Rodriguez
  • Open Kite - 1st, Cyr
  • Mixed Lightning - 2nd, Starck/Dieball/Jones
  • Women's 49erFX - 2nd, Roble/Shea
  • Men's RS:X - 2nd, Pascual
  • Mixed Nacra 17 - 3rd, Gibbs/Weiss
  • Men's 49er - 4th, Mollerus/MacDiarmid
  • Open Sunfish - 6th, Blouin
  • Men's RS:X - 6th, Hall
  • Women's Laser Radial - 8th, Rose
Among the sailors leading their fleets is Team USA Formula Kite athlete, Will Cyr (Grosse Pointe, Mich.). Cyr is the first athlete to officially represent Team USA in the Formula Kite class. "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 trained intensively for his first Games experience. After logging at least 100 miles on the water each week in the period leading up to the Games, it's safe to say he is prepared. "I flew to San Francisco multiple times to train with one of our top USA riders," said Cyr.

The Formula Kite class is slated to be included in the Olympics Games Paris 2024, for the first time. While the 2024 Games are on Cyr's radar, his focus is certainly still on Lima 2019, "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."

The Formula Kite is among three classes that Team USA is currently leading. Charlie Buckingham (Newport Beach, Calif.) is leading the Men's Laser class and Ernesto Rodriguez (Miami, Fla.) and Hallie Schiffman (Sarasota, Fla.) have established a commanding lead over the Mixed Snipe fleet. Rodriguez and Schiffman are currently six points ahead of their next closest competitors. Schiffman attributed their success today to great speed and positioning on the course.

Both she and her skipper, Rodriguez, have had considerable success in single-handed boats. Schiffman primarily sails the Women's Laser Radial at Olympic class regattas. 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."

U.S. Nacra sailors Riley Gibbs (Long Beach, Calif.) and Anna Weiss (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) also had an admirable day after scoring two first-place finishes. Their results pushed them into a podium position, heading into day four. Other highlights for Team USA include second place ranked boats Steph Roble (East Troy, Wisc.) and Maggie Shea (Wilmette, Ill.) in the Women's 49erFX class, Pedro Pascual (West Palm Beach, Fla.) in the Men's RS:X class, and Jody Starck (Buffalo, N.Y.), Skip Dieball (Grosse Ile, Mich.), and Ian Jones (Buffalo, N.Y.) in the Mixed Lightning class.

Team USA is looking forward to more racing tomorrow. Racing is scheduled to resume again at 1100 local time.

Related Articles

Two US Teams take on Offshore Double Handed Worlds
US Sailing is proud to endorse both teams as they compete against 28 other teams. Two mixed-gender US teams - Jesse Fielding & Leah Sweet and Joseph Kurta & Adrianna Lee - will take to the waters off Cowes in the UK to compete against some of the best shorthanded offshore sailors in the world for the Offshore Double Handed Worlds. Posted on 17 Sep
Applications are now open for Kevin Burnham Award
Grants are open to sailors under the age of 32 Do you compete in two-person Olympic class or Olympic Development class trapeze boats? Posted on 4 Sep
A Heartbreaking Loss for the Sailing Community
US Sailing is deeply saddened by the tragic accident that occurred on Monday US Sailing is deeply saddened by the tragic accident that occurred on Monday, July 28 near the Miami Yacht Club, resulting in the loss of two young sailors and injuries to others. Posted on 30 Jul
US Sailing and Zhik announce strategic partnership
Zhik will provide cutting-edge gear designed to enhance athlete performance on the water US Sailing, the national governing body for the sport of sailing in the United States, is proud to announce a new multi-year partnership with Zhik, global leader in high-performance water wear. Posted on 13 May
US Sailing announces new scholarship fund
To support sailors' growth and development In an effort to make sailing more accessible and inclusive, US Sailing is proud to announce the launch of the US Sailing Scholarship Fund. Posted on 28 Apr
Charlie Enright appointed as CEO of US Sailing
An accomplished sailor and an advocate of the sport, known for his leadership skills US Sailing announced Charlie Enright, an accomplished leader in the sailing industry, as the Association's new CEO. Enright will take the helm of US Sailing, the sport's National Governing Body (NGB), following an extensive national executive search. Posted on 14 Apr
Three American teams qualify for Medal Races
At Trofeo Princesa Sofía, first Sailing Grand Slam After six days of racing on the Bay of Palma at the 54th Trofeo Princesa Sofía, three American teams finished the opening series in the top 10, qualifying for prestigious medal races at the largest Olympic classes regatta of the year. Posted on 8 Apr
Lead-up to LA28 begins with Princesa Sofía Regatta
29 athletes representing the US are now in Palma 29 athletes representing the US across eight Olympic classes will spar with over 50 other countries at the 54th edition of the Trofeo Princesa Sofía Mallorca, considered to be the European season opener. Posted on 31 Mar
Jr. Pan American Games Sailing Team announced
Four athletes named, set to compete in Paraguay this August Four US athletes will take the water for the second ever Junior Pan American Games coming up August 9-23, 2025 in Asunción, Paraguay. Posted on 7 Mar
US Sailing Youth Team qualification update
Over half of the 72 sailors who will qualify have now earned their spot on the team Over half of the 72 sailors who will qualify for the Youth National Team in 2025 have now earned their spot on the team based on top finishes at class association Midwinter Championships. Posted on 7 Mar
Armstrong 728x90 - HA Foil Range - BOTTOMZhik 2024 DecemberSelden 2020 - FOOTER