The Canadian team will take part in the 470 Class Open European Championship
Kingston, April 29, 2021 ÛÒ The Canadian team nominated to represent Team Canada at the 2020 Olympic Games in the 470 class and made up of Jacob Saunders from Chester, N.S., and Oliver Bone from Montreal, QC, will pursue their preparation toward Tokyo this summer by taking part in the 470 Class Open European Championships starting Sunday in Vilamoura, Portugal.
This competition will be the first one for the team since the Miami World Cup held in January 2020.
ÛÏWe’re quite stoked to get into our Olympic equipment and race against international teams again after more than a year’s pause in racing due to the pandemic,Û said Jacob Saunders, the team’s skipper.
Jacob Saunders and Oliver Bone, Olympians from the 2016 and 2008 Games, respectively, will compete against close to 30 teams that represent around 20 countries from all over the world. Among them, eight of the first 10 teams at the 470 World Championships held in Vilamoura in March will take part in the competition, including the gold, silver and bronze medalists, i.e. Anton Dahlberg and Fredrik Bergstr̦m from Sweden, Diogo and Pedro Costa from Portugal, as well as Jordi Xammar and Nicolas Rodgriguez from Spain. Competition will end Friday, May 7.
Fans will be able to follow the daily performances of the Canadian team by following Sail Canada social media at:
Facebook: www.facebook.com/SailCanada
Instagram: www.instagram.com/sail_canada
Twitter: www.twitter.com/SailCanada
Jacob Saunders and Oliver Bone are part of the 9-member team that has been nominated to represent Canada in sailing at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, slated for July 23rd to August 8th, 2021. More details at: https://www.sailing.ca/events/2020-olympic-games/.
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.
