Please select your home edition
Edition
SOUTHERN-SPARS-AGLAIA-SPARS_728X90 TOP

US Sailing Team at the Pan American Games - Overall

by US Sailing Team 4 Nov 19:10 PST October 28 - November 5, 2023
US Sailing Team - Santiago 2023 - Pan American © US Sailing Team

As the final day of the Pan Am Games sailing event comes to a close with medal races in seven classes, Team USA continues their success with four more medals. This brings the total US Sailing Team medal count to nine: four gold, three silver, and two bronze. Team USA is also leaving Algarrobo with the most medals and the most Gold medals of the 27 participating countries.

In the ILCA 6 and Lightning, athletes were able to sail today's medal races with peace of mind knowing they had already clinched gold on points alone. Throughout the event, Erika Reineke (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) outpaced the competition in the ILCA 6, winning seven of the ten series races as well as the medal race. Reineke has been putting in the work at the gym and in physical therapy as she mends from an injury early this year, preparing for her Olympic circuit regattas and upcoming Trials.

"It feels great to win gold for Team USA. With the team here, the vibes have been amazing. I'm just happy to be here and compete!" said Reineke, who also celebrated her 30th birthday as she accepted the ILCA 6 gold. "I want to give a big thanks to my coach Eric back home. We've been working together since I got back in the ILCA 6. This result is proof we're going in the right direction."

Allan Terhune Jr. (Annapolis, MD), Sarah Chin (Harvey Cedars, NJ), and Madeline Baldridge (Charleston, SC) brought home Gold in the Lightning, ending a 24-year drought for the US Lightning discipline at Pan Ams. While this is Terhune's first appearance at the Pan Am games, he has come runner-up at the US Pan Am Trials four times.

"The three of us put together a plan last fall, executed, and got the best possible result," said Terhune. "I feel really lucky to have partnered with this crew."

"There are times in the sport when things just come together, and since we've started sailing together, we've seen more and more of these moments," continued crew Sarah Chin. "Being able to say we performed at our very best here is a huge accomplishment for us and I feel really proud of our team and what we've been able to do. This is where sailing is really a team sport and it's been awesome to get the energy from the rest of the US team. Honestly, this has been the best regatta of my entire life!"

The Snipe and Nacra 17 classes round out today's medals, with both classes achieving silver after their respective medal races. Sarah Newberry-Moore (Miami, FL) and David Liebenberg (Richmond, Calif.) locked in a medal on points after day six of racing, but their second-place finish in the medal race solidified their silver medal position. By finishing as the top North American country, Newberry-Moore and Liebenberg qualified the country in the Nacra 17 at the 2024 Olympics.

"Getting to represent the US is what we've been working toward basically our entire adult lives," said Liebenberg about the prospect of winning selection and racing in Marseille next year. "Both of us started campaigning right out of college so it's been almost a ten year journey, so that's the goal."

The Pan Am games were full of ups and downs for the Snipe team of Ernesto Rodriguez (Miami, FL) and Kathleen Tocke (Buffalo, NY). Rodriguez, who won gold at the 2019 Pan Am Games, got off to a rough start with an OCS in race three. However, the duo was able to climb back up the scoreboard, culminating with a win in the medal race.

"We didn't start the championship well, but we did the best we could. We fought hard in the last four races, and then winning the medal race was a bit of a consolation," said Rogriguez. "Thanks to my super crew Kathleen: it was a tough week, and we weren't sailing exactly the way we wanted, but it worked out - second is pretty good!"

"The points were so close in our fleet today it was anyone's game. Everyone who made it to the medal race had won a race this week so it was really the best of the best," added crew Kathleen Tocke.

Next, athletes in Olympic classes will turn their attention to finishing up outstanding country qualifications to get a full slate of USA berths in Paris. For all classes except Women's Formula Kite, athletes will also enter final preparations for domestic trials and international selection.

Highlights:

  • Alan Terhune, Madeline Baldridge, and Sarah Chin win Gold in the Lightning - This marks the first time the USA has won gold in the Lightning class in 24 years
  • Erika Reineke wins gold in the ILCA 6
  • Ernesto Rodriguez and Kathleen Tocke win silver in the Snipe class
  • Sarah Newberry-Moore and David Liebenberg win silver in the Nacra 17 and qualify the US for the 2024 Olympics in the Nacra 17
  • Connor Blouin finishes 5th overall in the Men's Sunfish after placing 5th in the medal race
  • Chapman Petersen finishes 13th overall in the ILCA 7
  • Amanda Callahan finishes 8th overall in the Women's Sunfish
Quick Links:

Related Articles

Young sailors awarded medal for windsurfer rescue
Seven youth sailors were honored on December 3rd in a ceremony at Rush Creek Yacht Club The US Sailing Safety at Sea Committee has awarded the Arthur B. Hanson Rescue Medal to Rush Creek Yacht Club Youth Sailors for outstanding seamanship and awareness in the rescue of a windsurfer on Lake Hubbard in Dallas, Texas. Posted on 7 Dec
15 USA athletes in Brazil for Youth Worlds
In classes that prepare youth for transitions to full size Olympic equipment One of the final regattas of the year to watch takes us to Búzios, Brazil for the Youth Sailing World Championship where 15 athletes will hit the water to represent the USA in classes that prepare youth for transitions to full size Olympic equipment. Posted on 7 Dec
Marcus Lynch joins US Sailing
New High Performance Director to lead US Olympic Sailing Team and all high-performance programs US Sailing today announced Marcus Lynch, an accomplished professional sailor athlete, coach, and Olympic performance manager, as US Sailing's High Performance Director. Posted on 5 Dec
New additions to US Sailing Board of Directors
Rey, Gallagher, and Grondin will each serve a four-year term US Sailing has named two new members of the US Sailing's Board of Directors, as well as one reelection, who were officially elected on Wednesday, November 8 at US Sailing's Annual Meeting in Los Angeles, CA. Posted on 1 Dec
US sailors win at World Sailing Awards
Americans had a successful night in Malaga, Spain Americans had a successful night at the World Sailing Awards yesterday, held at the World Sailing Annual Conference in Malaga, Spain. Posted on 16 Nov
US Sailing Team at the Pan American Games Day 7
A golden day for Team USA! A golden day for Team USA! After medal races in six of the 13 classes, the US Sailing Team is taking home five medals, including gold medals in the 49er and Women's Formula Kite. Posted on 4 Nov
US Sailing Team at the Pan American Games Day 6
Team USA has maintained intensity and is bringing home some early good news The final days of the Pan American Games are approaching but Team USA has maintained intensity and is bringing home some early good news. Posted on 3 Nov
US Sailing Team at the Pan American Games Day 5
Erika Reineke won both races in the ILCA 6 The sun hid away, and Team USA's singlehanded athletes came to play with a race win for Blouin in the Men's Sunfish, a 2nd place finish in the ILCA 7 for Petersen, and race wins across the board for Erika Reineke in the ILCA 6. Posted on 2 Nov
US Sailing Team at the Pan American Games Day 4
Some much-needed sun in Algarrobo, Chile Day four of the Pan American Games brought some much-needed sun and warmer air temperatures to combat the frigid Pacific water and mountainous swell. Posted on 1 Nov
US Sailing Team at the Pan American Games Day 3
Team USA wasted no time climbing the leaderboard After a day of no racing, Team USA wasted no time climbing the leaderboard today at the Pan Am Games, with four of the 13 classes in first overall, and five more classes in the top three. Posted on 31 Oct
Lloyd Stevenson - Equilibrium 728x90px BOTTOMHyde Sails 2022 One Design FOOTERNorth Sails Performance 2023 - FOOTER