The San Pedro Olympic Classes Regatta wrapped up with two American teams delivering competitive performances in the skiff classes, marking another milestone on the road to the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games.
Paris Henken and Helena Scutt finished 7th overall in the 49erFX, while Nevin Snow and Ian MacDiarmid secured 4th place in the 49er after both teams advanced to the finals series on the closing day of racing.
Strong Showing in the Skiff Classes
Snow and MacDiarmid’s 4th-place result underscores the duo’s continued presence among the world’s top 49er sailors. Snow, who first gained international recognition as a promising young match racer and Clagett sailor before transitioning to Olympic-class skiff racing, has steadily built a campaign that positions the team as a serious contender for LA28 selection. A podium finish was within reach in San Pedro, and the narrow miss by just one position will provide motivation heading into the next phase of the qualification cycle.
Henken, meanwhile, brings deep Olympic-class experience to her campaign with Scutt in the 49erFX. A veteran of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games where she competed in the mixed multihull class, Henken has since redirected her focus to the high-performance skiff. Partnering with Scutt, the pair’s 7th-place finish at a regatta of this caliber signals that the team is building toward peak form at the right time, with the home Games now less than two years away.
West Coast Swing Concludes
The San Pedro Olympic Classes Regatta served as the final event in a west coast swing on the Olympic sailing calendar, giving athletes a valuable opportunity to race in the waters and conditions that will define the LA28 sailing venue. San Pedro Bay, situated off the coast of Long Beach and the Port of Los Angeles, is expected to host Olympic sailing events in 2028, making every competitive outing in these waters a critical investment in local knowledge.
Conditions off the Southern California coast present a unique set of challenges. The prevailing thermal sea breeze, influenced by the Catalina Eddy weather pattern, can produce shifty and variable winds that demand sharp tactical awareness. For teams with aspirations of standing on the Olympic podium in front of a home crowd, familiarity with these nuances could prove to be a decisive advantage.
The Road to LA28
With the west coast swing now complete, American Olympic-class sailors shift their attention to the next block of international competition. The pathway to LA28 selection is expected to be fiercely competitive, particularly in the skiff classes where the United States has historically fielded strong contenders but has yet to claim an Olympic medal in either the 49er or 49erFX.
US Sailing’s campaign structure has placed increasing emphasis on sustained results across a full quadrennial rather than single-event selection trials, meaning consistent finishes like those posted by Snow/MacDiarmid and Henken/Scutt carry significant weight. As the calendar turns toward 2027 and the major qualification regattas that will determine national berths, the performances logged at San Pedro represent important building blocks.
For American sailing fans, the prospect of Olympic racing on home waters adds an extra layer of anticipation. The San Pedro Olympic Classes Regatta offered an early glimpse of what LA28 sailing could look like — and with results like these, there is reason for optimism that the U.S. teams will be in the mix when it matters most.
