In December,13-year-old Asher Davis, a resident of Hubbards and a sailor at the Hubbards Sailing Club, got to compete as one of the 15 members of Team Canada at the Pan American Optimist Sailing Championships in Buenos Aires, Argentina, held from December 10 to 17.
He was the only member of the Canadian team from Atlantic Canada. This was Asher’s first international
competition. He qualified based on his summer 2025 results at the Canadian Nationals, ranking 29th in the country through the Canadian Optimist Dinghy Association (CODA). That ranking earned him an invitation to participate in Buenos Aires last month.
racecourse in Buenos Aires.
Asher finished 70th overall out of 122 boats, with a best overall finish of 11th in a single race. He was eighth in Silver Fleet and was the fifth-fastest Canadian.
Before heading to Argentina, Asher says the thing he most looked forward to was “sailing in a new country against international competitors.” There were some surprises, especially, he says, “how difficult the current and local conditions were.” He adds, “The best parts were the excitement of the races, competing against the other kids, and the high-quality coaching.”
He has been sailing since the age of 6, encouraged by his dad, a former sailing instructor in Hubbards. Asher will continue to race for the Hubbards Sailing Club and looks forward to attending the Canadian
Optimist Dinghy Championships in Vancouver in August.
For now, back home in the Canadian winter, he’s enjoying reflecting on his experience in Argentina, and on the support that got him there.
“I’m grateful to my coaches, teammates, family, and all those who made donations,” he says, “especially local support from the Hubbards Area Lions Club and the Girls Night Out.”