A1R Athletes on track for LA 2028
The second major event of the 2028 Olympic cycle has just wrapped up in Hyeres France, and America One Racing’s new Project Podium Team is making some waves on the International scene.
A1R brought 7 athletes to Hyeres, and 5 of the 7 were battling for the podium saturday afternoon. The 49er team of Nevin Snow and Ian MacDiarmid emerged victorious, managing a heated and strategic medal race battle to perfection. This is the first US Skiff victory at a major International Event in over a decade, and showed that their strong debut as a pairing in Palma a few weeks ago was no fluke.
After it was all over Nevin shared his thoughts: “To be honest, this win hasn’t really sunk in yet! We have been so much in competition-mode, focused on how we can stay consistent and keep working on the little things. Obviously Ian and Klaus and I are really happy with how quickly things are coming together and how the plan is progressing. We had a week of really varied conditions ranging from 5 to 25 knots, so it felt good to kind of be the last ones standing at the end. The team behind us and the support we feel on and off the water really helps.”
A1R teammates Paris Henken and Helena Scutt were in contention in the 49er Fx Class all week, entering the medal race in 4th position with all to play for. For the 2nd event in a row they sailed a superb medal race, finishing 2nd in the race to end up 2nd overall, only 2 points out of 1st. Unwavering trust in each other, total commitment to the project and a strong performance team surrounding them are helping them to achieve strong results within a very short period of time.
Helena’s comments at the end of a whirlwind week:
“This medal is because of the experience and dedication of the people around us, from our coaches Willie McBride and Hans Henken to our physio Jorge Gonzalez Guedes and our performance plan with A1R.
We feel so supported every day. This week of racing in Hyères feels like a metaphor for the 3+ years ahead: it felt like a marathon, with a lot of ups and downs, and we stayed focused on ourselves and not everyone else. We were prepared every day to make smart decisions on the racecourse. Even better, we were able to share the excitement with Nevin, Ian, and Klaus all week.
Immediately after the medal race I felt deep fulfillment already, mostly because of all the choices and work I put in since my last Olympic campaigns, but also for choosing to bet on ourselves with this LA 2028 campaign. I am filled with a sense of wonder for what’s to come.”
ILCA 6 teammate Charlotte Rose found herself in a similar position, battling near the top of the fleet all week. Going into the medal race 4 boats all had a good shot at winning, and on the final run to the finish any of the 4 could still have taken the title. Chiara Floriani from Italy ended up winning the event, with Charlotte just missing out on a bronze medal on a tiebreak. While disappointed to finish 4th, as the final tuneup before her peak Event of the year (ILCA Worlds in China in May), her preparations are on track. After her 13th place in Palma she put major emphasis on her light air performance, and Hyeres represented a strong step forward in that regard.
Charlotte commented: “Though I didn’t come away with a medal, I’m walking away pretty proud about my performance this week and the goals being checked off to prep me for the Worlds in two weeks. I’m very pleased with the work I’ve been putting in the past couple of months with my coach (Nick Thompson), and we’re just getting started! I was really proud to see my fellow A1R athletes standing on the podium in Hyeres.“
The entire A1R team in Hyeres improved on their Palma results, with Noah Runciman’s 9th place finish his highest ever result in a major Formula Kite Championship. Noah’s thoughts reflecting on the week: “15 races over the week among some of the best in my sport. I’m happy with my first-ever top 10 finish and hungrier than ever to get better. A huge thank you to America One Racing and their partners for the expertise and support”.
There is a lot of work to do and a busy summer of training and racing ahead, but these dedicated athletes are beginning to show what a small program that minimizes distractions and focuses on performance can achieve. All of this is possible because of the support of our partners the Sailing Foundation of New York, Quantum Racing/American Magic, Windmark Foundation, the Schoonmaker Foundation and our passionate private donors.
About America One Racing: America One Racing (A1R) is dedicated to developing high-potential sailors and preparing them for success on the world stage. A1R provides athletes with elite coaching, performance planning, and cutting-edge resources to compete in top international events, including the Olympic Games, Pan American Games, and Youth World Championships. A1R’s commitment to youth development takes place through its Foiling Platform and squad training. Building on America One’s 25-year legacy of advancing sailing in the U.S., A1R continues to shape the future of the sport, ensuring American sailors have the tools to reach the podium. For more information, visit www.americaoneracing.us.