With just four months to go to the Olympic Test Event in Rio this summer and qualification time running out, the US Sailing Team Sperry is slowly starting to gain steam in a few classes even as it looks in qualification trouble in others. Finn sailor Caleb Paine, past world Laser Radial champ Paige Railey, and the Annie and Briana show continue as perennial top-tenners, but none of the three seem able to jump to the podium on any kind of regular basis. While you don’t want to peak too soon, we’re just hoping they peak…period. Here’s a quick word from our pal Will Ricketson at the USSTS media office. His photo as well. Results are here.
“Charlie Buckingham dominated the Laser medal race in 18-20kts in Hyères a few hours ago, taking the bullet and finishing 8th overall. Like the rest of our team, he is not satisfied with a non-podium performance, but told me the following afterword: “There’s a couple things I’m working on to make a bit of a jump, but things are definitely moving in the right direction as we get to the more important part of this season, especially with the [Olympic] Test Event and the Pan American Games coming up, and also as the Trials and Olympics approach. I’m just trying to climb my way up there.”
“The other sailor in the photo is the 2012 Olympian from Guatemala and 2013 College Sailor of the Year (College of Charleston) Juan Maegli. In fact there are three College Sailor of the Year awards represented in this photo (Charlie won in ’09 and ’11) but I digress…”
-Will
