Kingston, March 25, 2024 – The Road to Paris 2024 will continue for Canadian sailors at the 2024 Princess Sofia Trophy Regatta, scheduled for April 1 to 6 in Palma, Spain, as additional athletes will qualify to be nominated for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in predetermined events at that competition.

As of today, Canada has qualified as a country in four events (49er, 49erFX, ILCA 6 and Women’s Kiteboarding), and only one Canadian team/athlete has officially qualified to be nominated for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games: Antonia and Georgia Lewin-LaFrance from Nova Scotia in 49erFX.

The sisters will be in action at the Princess Sofia Trophy Regatta against the best in the world, including all medalists from the past three World Championships, except one team. Tara and Siobhan Golonka from Victoria, B.C. will also be in action.

Four different qualifying scenarios will happen to Canadian sailors at the 2024 Princess Sofia Trophy Regatta, depending on their class:

• Qualification to be nominated for Paris 2024 in 49er and ILCA 6;
• Qualification process to end in ILCA 7 and iQFoil, pending the qualification of spots for the country;
• Qualification process to start in women’s kiteboarding;
• Qualification process to start in mixed multihull (Nacra 17) and in men’s kiteboarding, but waiting to qualify spots for the country.

It should be noted however that there will be no spot for the country available in any class at that event.

Qualification to be nominated for Paris 2024 in 49er and ILCA 6

With Canada already having Olympic spots for the country in 49er and ILCA 6, and since the first of two competitions serving for the purposes of the qualification process in these two classes have already been held, Sail Canada will announce, following the 2024 Princess Sofia Trophy Regatta, the group of Canadian athletes that will have qualified to be nominated for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in these two classes.

Standings after events 1 of 2

ILCA 6

1. Sarah Douglas (Toronto, ON-ABYC) – 26 points
2. Clara Gravely (Toronto, ON-ABYC) – 45 points

49er

1. Will Jones (Jerseyville, ON-RHYC) and Justin Barnes (Pickering, ON-RCYC) – 39 points
2. Arie Moffat (Kingston, ON, KYC) and Hunter Hoy (Kirkland, QC) – 50 points
3. Thomas and William Staples (55 points), Beaconsfield, QC-RSLYC – 55 points

Dylan Jones (Victoria, B.C.-RVicYC) and Nicolas Tosi (Gatineau, QC): in action in Palma, but did not take part in the first qualification competition – 0 point

Qualification process to end in ILCA 7 and in iQFoil, pending the qualification of spots for the country

In ILCA 7 and iQFoil, the Canadian qualification process will end at the 2024 Princess Sofia Trophy Regatta since the first of two competitions serving for the purposes of the qualification process in these two classes have already been held. However, athletes who win the selection process following the second and final event will only be confirmed as qualified to be nominated if and when Canada earns spots.

Standings after events 1 of 2

ILCA 7

1. Luke Ruitenberg (St. Margaret’s Bay, N.S.-RNSYS) – 40 points
2. Mike Leigh (Nanaimo, B.C.) – 77 points
3. Fillah Karim (Vancouver, B.C.-RVYC) – 79 points
4. Ryan Anderson (Halifax, N.S.-RNSYS) – 80 points
5. Liam Bruce (Oakville, ON-Port Credit YC) – 85 points
6. Norman Struthers (Toronto, ON-RCYC) – 91 points
7. James Juhasz (Oakville, ON-BHYC) – 107 points
8. Ben Flower (Tobermory, ON-Tobermory YC) – 121 points

iQFoil (women)

1. Nikola Girke (West Vancouver, B.C.) – 91 points
2. Rebecca Heller (Ottawa, ON): will not take part in the 2024 Princess Sofia Trophy Regatta – 93 points

iQFoil (men)

1. Cyrus Lai (Vancouver, B.C.): will not take part in the 2024 Princess Sofia Trophy Regatta – 101 points

Qualification process to start in women’s kiteboarding at the 2024 Princess Sofia Trophy Regatta

Canada has earned a spot for the country in women’s kiteboarding and the 2024 Princess Sofia Trophy Regatta will be the first of two competitions that will serve as the qualification process for the athletes. The second and last event to that effect will be the Formula Kite World Championships to be held mid-May in France.

Athletes in action in women’s kiteboarding at the 2024 Princess Sofia Trophy Regatta

• Emily Bugeja (Vancouver, B.C.-RVYC)
• Martyna Dakowicz (Oakville, ON)
• Nataliya Leshko (Toronto, ON)
• Marie-Ève Mayrand (Calgary, AB, and from Quebec City, QC)

Qualification process to start in Nacra 17 and in men’s kiteboarding, but still waiting to qualify spots for the country

In mixed multihull (Nacra 17) and men’s kiteboarding, Canadian sailors will take part in the first of two competitions that will serve as the qualification process. However, Canada still needs to qualify a spot for the country.

Athletes in action at the 2024 Princess Sofia Trophy Regatta

Mixed multihull (Nacra 17)

• Galen Richardson (Toronto, ON-RCYC) & Madeline Gillis (Halifax, N.S.-RNSYS)
• Caspar Lenz Anderson (Calgary, AB- CYC) & Coralie Vittecoq (Montreal West, QC-Pointe-Claire YC)

Men’s Kiteboarding

• Mac Morrin (Kingston, ON)

In Two Person Dinghy (470), there are no Canadians registered and Canada didn’t qualify an Olympic spot in that event so far.

Canada will still be able to qualify spots for the country for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games at the Last Chance Regatta, April 21-28 in France, or through World Sailing’s spots reallocation process.

How Canadian athletes can qualify themselves for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games

For each class in which Canada qualifies a spot for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, except in 49erFX, athletes and teams can qualify themselves by being the athlete/team with the lowest score combined position from the 2024 World Championships in their respective classes and the 2024 Princess Sofia Trophy Regatta, added together, with selection being based on a sailing scoring system (lowest score first).

If there is a tie, the athlete/team in the higher position (based on the sailing scoring system) at the 2024 Princess Sofia Trophy Regatta will qualify to be nominated. If an event is cancelled, it will be replaced by the classes’ 2024 European Championships.

Prior to being named to Team Canada, all nominations are subject to approval by the Canadian Olympic Committee’s Team Selection Committee after it has received nominations from all National Sport Organizations.

Full qualification processes for countries to qualify spots at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, the manner in which Canadians can qualify themselves to be nominated for the Paris 2024 Team Canada squad, as well as the full qualification calendar are available at https://www.sailing.ca/sc_event/2024-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.

Information: 

Patrick Godbout
Communications Manager
Sail Canada
Email: patrick@sailing.ca
Phone: 514-213-9897