Canada qualifies two additional spots in sailing for the Lima 2027 Pan American Games
by Sail Canada 29 Sep 08:29 UTC
25-27 September 2026
Canadian sailors qualified two additional spots in the ILCA 6 and 7 classes for the Lima 2027 Pan American Games after the 2026 Sail Canada Senior Championships (ILCA 6 & 7) and CORK Olympic Classes Regatta were held last weekend in Kingston.
The Lima 2027 Pan American Games will be one of the opportunities for sailors to qualify spots for their countries for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games. A maximum of 17 athletes in ILCA 6 as well as 17 athletes in ILCA 7 will be selected to compete in Lima, with a maximum of one boat per country per sailing class.
To qualify a spot for their countries for the Lima 2027 Pan American Games, sailors had to finish in the top two in overall standings - amongst those from countries not already qualified - at the 2026 Sail Canada Senior Championships (ILCA 6 & 7) and CORK Olympic Classes Regatta. Canadian sailors achieved that feat in both classes.
Canada has now qualified in nine classes for the Lima 2027 Pan American Games, a list that also includes the men's and women's Formula Kite, as well as the 49er, 49erFX, Nacra 17, 470 and Lightning classes.
Canadian sailors Annie Balasubramanian and Ryan Anderson win gold
At the 2026 Sail Canada Senior Championships (ILCA 6 & 7) and CORK Olympic Classes Regatta, Canada won the gold medal in both classes.
In ILCA 6, Canadian Sailing Team (CST) members Annie Balasubramanian from Toronto and Lilly Rainham from Halifax respectively took the first and second spots, followed by Emanuel John Alexiou, a youth male sailor from the Bahamas. The women's podium was swept by Canadians as another CST member, Clara Gravely, took the third spot.
"I'm super happy to come away with a win at the Sail Canada Senior Championships (ILCA 6 & 7) and CORK Olympic Classes Regatta this year," said Annie Balasubramanian. "It was an important regatta as it was also a Pan American Games country qualifier. Canada needed to place in the top two countries to get a spot at the Lima 2027 Pan American Games. The girls on the team all worked super hard the past three days, and with us sweeping the female podium, we guaranteed a spot! I'm very proud of all of us; it was a great regatta and Kingston delivered on all three days!"
In ILCA 7, CST member Ryan Anderson won the gold medal, followed by another Canadian sailor, Jacob Townsend, and Hamilton Barclay from USA.
"The Sail Canada Senior Championships (ILCA 6 & 7) and CORK Olympic Classes Regatta had a great turnout this year with many competitors coming from other nations to qualify their country for the Pan American Games," said Ryan Anderson. "Kingston provided some strong and shifty breeze from the northeast for the three racing days."
"I was impressed with the many young Canadian ILCA 7 sailors who gave it their all in the challenging conditions. Many showed they have what it takes to make great sailors. I look forward to watching their progress. We had seven Canadians in the top 10 who contributed to qualifying the country for the Pan American Games. Achieving this was the ultimate goal this week, making the events a great success for Canadian ILCA sailors."
Over 55 sailors took part in the competition.
Details are available here.