The Canadian sisters come up with third consecutive podium finish
Kingston, June 25, 2025 – Antonia and Georgia Lewin-LaFrance from Chester, N.S., won the bronze medal at the third event of the 2025 Sailing Grand Slam Series, Kiel Week, held June 21-25 in Kiel, GER.
This is the third consecutive podium finish for Antonia and Georgia Lewin-LaFrance, who won gold earlier this month at the 2025 49er, 49erFX and Nacra 17 European Championships, in addition to taking bronze in April at the second Sailing Grand Slam Series event of the season, French Olympic Week.
Since the sisters have returned from the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, they have qualified for the Medal Race in each of their four events. The Medal Race is contested by the top 10 boats from the preliminary races and points are doubled.
Fourth overall following the preliminary races and four points away from a spot on the podium, Antonia and Georgia Lewin-LaFrance finished fourth in Wednesday’s Medal Race, a performance that allowed them to move up to a podium position.
Freya Black and Saskia Tidey from Great Britain won gold, followed by Sophie Steinlein and Catherine Bartelheimer from Germany and the Canadian team. A total of 48 boats took part in the 49erFX event.
Throughout the week of competition which featured a mix of light and strong winds, the Lewin-LaFrance sisters recorded eight top-ten results, including three wins, over the 10 races that were held.
“The conditions did not really play to our strengths, but it was nice to climb the leaderboard every day and to come away with a spot on the podium,” said Antonia and Georgia Lewin-LaFrance. “The focus right now is to build towards the World Championships in October, and hoping to train and progress as much as we can until then.”
The sisters will now come back home before spending time in Los Angeles for training. The fourth and next-to-last leg of the Sailing Grand Slam Series will be held July 12 to 20 in Long Beach, California.
Carlos Charabati finishes 7th at the ILCA 6 Men World Championship
The ILCA 6 Men World Championship was also held during the 2025 Kiel Week event, and the only Canadian representative, Carlos Charabati from Montreal, took 7th place out of a total of 124 sailors.
Throughout the week of competition, Charabati recorded four top-ten results over nine races.
“I’m happy to come away in the top ten at the World Championship”, said Carlos Charabati. “It was a very tricky regatta with offshore winds bringing lots of shifts inconsistency in the results. It is a bitter sweet feeling for me as I feel I can do better.”
Canadian results at the 2025 Kiel Week
49erFX (/48)
BRONZE. *Antonia Lewin-Lafrance & Georgia Lewin-LaFrance (Chester, N.S.)
46. Emily Roy & Sophie Carter
ILCA 7 (/148)
64. *James Juhasz (Oakville, ON)
105. Ben Flower
ILCA 6 (/88)
30. *Annie Balasubramanian (Toronto, ON)
ILCA 6 Men World Championship (/124)
7. Carlos Charabati (Montreal, QC)
*Members of Sail Canada’s National Team
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.
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Information:
Patrick Godbout
Communications Manager
Sail Canada
Email: patrick@sailing.ca
Phone: 514-213-9897