Pan Pepín International Regatta brought over 100 Sailors from 16 countries to San Juan Bay

What a spectacular weekend on the water! 

Wednesday, February 18, 2026

SAN JUAN, PUERTO RICO

The 2026 Pan Pepin International Regatta delivered three unforgettable days of racing this past weekend, featuring incredible breeze, towering swells and world-class competition — in truly perfect Caribbean conditions. 

Hosted by the Sailing Academy of Club Náutico de San Juan, this year’s event brought together over 100 sailors from 16 countries and 9 sailing classes in three racing areas. 

​​The list of athletes includes participants from these countries and territories:

Country	# of Athletes	Classes Represented
Bahamas (BAH)	2	C420
Barbados (BAR)	3	C420, ILCA 6, ILCA 7
British Virgin Islands (IVB)	3	Optimist RBW
Cayman Islands (CAY)	1	ILCA 6
Colombia (COL)	1	ILCA 7
Dominican Republic (DOM)	2	ILCA 7, Sunfish
Grenada (GRN)	1	ILCA 7
Guatemala (GUA)	8	ILCA 4, ILCA 6, Snipe, Sunfish
Hong Kong (HKG)	2	Optimist RBW
Mexico (MEX)	5	C420, ILCA 4, ILCA 6, ILCA 7
Peru (PER)	1	Optimist RBW
Puerto Rico (PUR)	47	C420, ILCA 4, ILCA 6, ILCA 7, Optimist Green, Optimist RBW, Optimist Super Green, Snipe, Sunfish
Saint Lucia (LCA)	1	ILCA 7
Trinidad & Tobago (TTO)	4	ILCA 6, ILCA 7
United States (USA)	12	ILCA 4, ILCA 6, Optimist RBW, Optimist Super Green
U.S. Virgin Islands (ISV)	6	ILCA 6, Optimist RBW, Optimist Super Green

Conditions That Made Memories

Saturday kicked off with gentle breezes of 5–8 knots, giving crews a chance to dial in their boats and tactics. But Sunday and Monday turned up the heat — or rather, the wind! Classic Caribbean trade winds of 12–18 knots fueled thrilling starts and tactical duels across every course.

The ocean wasn’t shy either — Sunday swells reached 6–8 feet, producing some of the best surfing conditions sailors have seen in years. “The surfing was awesome,” grinned Pedro Fernández Gamboa, Puerto Rico’s ILCA 7 Olympic representative and winner of his class. 

Elite Competition Across Multiple Classes

From precision racing in light air to dynamic planing conditions, the fleet covered a wide range of skill and speed:

• Sunfish

• Club 420

• ILCA 4, 6 & 7

• Optimist (including RBW and Green Fleets)

• Snipe

Some classes used the regatta as a qualifier for the Central American Games, adding even more competitive fire to the event. 

The largest fleet by far was Optimist, with 65 boats racing across the Red/Blue/White and Green divisions — a sign of the growth of youth sailing in the Caribbean. 

Olympians and Champions Take the Line

This wasn’t just a big regatta — it was a world-class one. Three Olympic-level athletes competed alongside a North American Champion, a South American Champion, and a former Sunfish World Champion, bringing elite talent to every start.

Ryan Christiansen, Regatta Chairman, announced proudly that entrants came from 16 nations with an impressive aggregate of diverse sailing talent.

Beautiful Views for Spectators

With two beautifully situated courses — one inside San Juan Bay and another out front near historic San Cristobal Castle — parents and fans enjoyed every minute. There were smiles, cheers, and yes, plenty of piña coladas enjoyed under sunny Caribbean breezes as young sailors pushed for position with every tack and jibe.

International judges from the USVI and Venezuela kept the racing fair and competitive, while Race Officers from Bermuda and The Bahamas did a superb job running the courses with precision and professionalism.

Looking Ahead: Bigger and Better

The enthusiasm doesn’t stop here. The goal for next year is ambitious: 20 countries and 150 boats on the start line — and organizers fully believe it’s within reach.

Boris Corujo, President of the Federación de Vela de Puerto Rico, says the island’s conditions are a huge draw: steady winds, warm water, and 80°F sailing nearly year-round. Clinics for ILCA, Sunfish and Optimist classes are in development to grow the sport — and Puerto Rico already has the boats waiting for more sailors to come charter them.

After a decade of targeted youth development by Club Náutico de San Juan’s sailing director — 1995 Pan Am Games 470 Gold Medalist Pedro Luis Fernández — the results are obvious: a deeper, stronger layer of young sailors ready for the world stage.

A Huge Success — and a Surprise Ahead

As Miguel Casellas, Vice President of the Federación de Vela de Puerto Rico, said, “The Pan Pepin International Regatta has been a complete success, and we are already looking forward to next year.”

Many thanks to Mr. José Teixidor and Pan Pepín for their continued support to youth sailing on the Island. To all the sponsors that joined this wonderful event our most sincere recognition. And lastly, all the parents and sailing federations throughout the Caribbean and beyond that visited the Island and supported their children to participate in this beautiful sport.

And there’s more: next season, Club Náutico de San Juan will host a historic Big One Design regatta — but that’s a surprise for now. Stay tuned! 🇵🇷

Summary of Results:

C420 (Club 420)

1. Isabel Rivera Fernández / Gian Marco Piovanetti — PUR 11 (Club Náutico San Juan) — Net: 8

2. Alvaro Ramirez Jassa / Sofia Baeza Calero — MEX MEX23 (MEXICO1) — Net: 16

3. Rocio Castro-Ramos / Isabella Roig Ortiz — PUR 784 (MSS) — Net: 24

ILCA 4

1. OTTO Molina — GUA 182111 (Asovela) — Net: 17

2. Julian Rivera Fernández — PUR 204080 (Club Náutico San Juan) — Net: 18

3. Diego Delgado — PUR 177055 (Club Náutico San Juan) — Net: 29

ILCA 6

1. Alvaro Gutierrez — PUR 197979 (AVCNSJ) — Net: 10

2. Diego Sepulveda — PUR 226290 (Club Náutico San Juan) — Net: 23

3. Marina Escudero — PUR 170708 (Club Náutico San Juan) — Net: 25

ILCA 7

1. Pedro Fernandez — PUR 214311 (Club Náutico San Juan) — Net: 9

2. Luc Chevrier — LCA 214113 (SLYC) — Net: 18

3. Andrey Quintero — COL 1 (Federación de Vela Colombiana) — Net: 27

Optimist Green

1. Elias Francisco Blanco — PUR 1123 (Club Náutico San Juan) — Net: 10

2. Nicolas Rodriguez — PUR 44 (Club Náutico San Juan) — Net: 19

3. Daniel Christiansen — PUR 82 (Club Náutico San Juan) — Net: 19

Optimist RBW

1. Inés Mendez-Larminaux — PUR 103 (Club Náutico San Juan) — Net: 13

2. Guillermo Castañeda — PUR 83 (Club Náutico San Juan) — Net: 19

3. Joshua Wenokur — USA 441 (JK Sailing / SCCYC) — Net: 23

Optimist Super Green

1. Diego Figueroa — PUR 5699 (Marlin Sailing School) — Net: 67

2. Ignacio A. De Pedro — PUR 1704 (Marlin Sailing School) — Net: 78

3. Maria Cristina Villanueva-Meyer — PUR 88 (Club Náutico de San Juan) — Net: 98

Snipe

1. Diego Silvestre Perez / Marisleisys Cedeño — GUA 31564 (Asovela) — Net: 13

2. Ramon Gonzalez-Bennazar / Virginia Carrero — PUR 1 (AGRO POWER) — Net: 13

3. Juan Canizalez / Josselyn Echeverria — GUA 31610 (Asovela) — Net: 19

Sunfish

1. David Misael Hernández — GUA 5384 (Asovela) — Net: 16

2. Sebastian Medina — PUR 10 (Club Náutico San Juan) — Net: 16

3. Esneiry Perez — DOM 11 (Escuela de Vela de Barahona) — Net: 31

Photo Credits: https://www.facebook.com/ClubNauticoDeSanJuanPR

Central American and Caribbean Games Qualifier

Places earned for the Central American and Caribbean Games of Santo Domingo 2026 with the final results of the Pan Pepín International Regatta of February 14-16, 2026 in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

CLASS	COUNTRY
Snipe	PUR, GUA
I420	MEX, BAH, BAR
ILCA 6	BAR, CAY, ISV, TTO
ILCA 7	BAR, COL, GRN, LCA, MEX, TTO