Sailing champions crowned at the 2nd ASU2025 Junior Pan American Games in Encarnación

The competition took place over intense days on the San José Waterfront, where each regatta was accompanied by a large crowd and top-level technical performance. The wind and Paraná River conditions demanded the athletes to the maximum, turning each race into a true sporting spectacle. This combination of nature, infrastructure, and passion for sport reaffirmed Encarnación as a privileged location for water sports in the region.

Francisco Leri, Sailing Sport Manager for ASU2025, highlighted the magnitude of the event and the enthusiasm of the Paraguayan public: “Encarnación has shown that it is ready to host major international sailing events. The level of the athletes was exceptional, and the natural setting was unique. ASU2025 is the best prelude to what is to come in the future.”

The men’s finals took place on Sunday 17 August. In the Men’s ILCA 7, Charles Hamilton Barclay of the United States won the gold medal with 5 net points, followed by Sebastián Whitaker Aziz Kempe of Bermuda, who took silver with 11 net points, and Gustavo Canovas Kiessling of Brazil, who took bronze with 15 net points. Fourth place went to O’zani Martin Jr. Lafond of Antigua and Barbuda, also with 15 net points but 23 total points, and fifth place went to Johnathon Reece Schwartz of Jamaica with 17 net points.

In the Men’s iQFOiL category, Makani Blues Andrews of the United States was crowned champion with 5 net points, the silver medal went to Kaj Rozeboom of Aruba with 8 net points, and the bronze went to Bartolomé de las Casas Barbosa of Peru with 10 net points. Fourth place went to Joaquín Reutemann of Argentina with 14 net points, and fifth to Jerónimo Abogado Irish’Stephenson of Mexico with 20 net points.

Finally, in the Men’s Kite category, gold went to Lucas Pes Fonseca of Brazil with 3 net points, silver to Alec Vázquez Guerrero of Mexico with 7 net points, and bronze to James Minh-Thong Huynh of Canada, also with 7 net points but 11 total points. Fourth place went to Adriano Castro Ortiz of Cuba with 11 net points, and fifth to Mateo Maldonado Cerdera of Argentina with 18 net points.

In the Women’s competition, the champions were also determined. In the ILCA 6 Women’s competition, Eliza Denning of the Bahamas won the gold medal with 11 net points, Cristina Castellanos Estrada of Guatemala took silver with 12 net points, and Florencia Chiarella Salas of Peru took bronze, also with 12 net points but 20 total points. Fourth place went to Ana Carolina Tonniges Roth of Brazil with 13 net points, and fifth to Isabella Lucía Mendoza Cabezas of the United States with 14 net points.

In the iQFOiL Women’s competition, which closed on Monday 18 August, Zara Rozeboom of Aruba took gold with 7 net points, Chiara Ferreti of Argentina took silver with 8 net points, and bronze went to Danicka Grace Sailer of the United States with 9 net points. Completing the top five were Sofía Rocha de Faria of Brazil with 17 net points and Sofía Rubini of Peru with 19 net points.

The closing ceremony was attended by prominent international authorities such as Veda Bruno, First Vice President of Panam Sports; Nicole Hoevertsz, Member of the Executive Committee of Panam Sports and the International Olympic Committee; Tricia Smith, Member of the Executive Committee of Panam Sports, the IOC, and President of the Canadian Olympic Committee; Jorge Delgado, Member of the Executive Committee of Panam Sports and President of the Ecuadorian Olympic Committee; and Fred Hagedorn, President of the Pan American Sailing Confederation.

Encarnación enjoyed an unforgettable experience that combined sport, tourism, and the warmth of its people. The citizens turned out in large numbers, enjoying the unique spectacle of sailing like never before. Francisco Leri concluded that “Paraguay and Encarnación have demonstrated that they can host the best championships on the continent.”

Text and images courtesy of ASU2025.