Kingston, September 28, 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 at https://www.sailing.ca/sc_event/sail-canada-ilca-6-and-ilca-7-senior-championships-2/.
About Sail Canada
Established in 1931, Sail Canada is the national governing body for the sport of sailing in the country. Sail Canada is a leading international sailing nation, proud of its world class athletes, lifelong participants and inclusive culture. The organization and its members are committed to excellence by developing and training its leaders, athletes, sailors, instructors, coaches and officials. With the valued support from our partners, the Provincial Sailing Associations and our member clubs, schools, organizations and stakeholders, sailing is promoted in all its forms. By setting standards and delivering programs from home pond to podium for Canadians of all ages and abilities, from dinghies to keelboats, cruising to navigation, windsurfing to powerboating and accessible sailing, Sail Canada sets sail for all, sail to win and sail for life.
A sport in the Olympic program since the first Games in 1896, except in 1904, the pursuit of success in these Games is what fuels the focus of Sail Canada as Canadian athletes have so far achieved nine Olympic and five Paralympic medals.
