Cherrie Pinpin

Hearing the call of the sea, Cherrie Pinpin returned to the 2015 Philippine sailing scene as  Differently Abled National Sailing Team member (who also races regular boats when possible).   Recent Sailing wins Cherrie and her french crew Eric Soulard steered their K2 Topcat catamaran to win 1st place, in the grueling 2016 edition of the 3 Island Challenge. They took 2nd place for line honours as well. She won Silver for the Philippines in the Women's Hansa 2.3 Sailing event of the ASEAN Para Games, Singapore 2015.    Previously active as founding shooter of the Philippine Paralympic Shooting Team, Cherrie Pinpin holds the Philippine SH1 R3 Air Rifle Prone record of 596 out of the maximum score of 600 points. The Philippine record is 2 points higher than the gold medal in the last ASEAN Para Games.   Cherrie also topped the Paralympic Shooting SH1 R3, Mixed event in the inaugural National Shooting Para Games, organized by PNSA (Philippine National Shooting Association), 17 March 2013 in the PSC-PNSA Range, Metro Manila. The National Shooting Para Games is the shooting event held in conjunction with the 2nd PSC-PHILSPADA (Philippine Sports Commission - Philippine Sports Association for the Differently Abled) National Para Games, March 2013.   TALENT, PASSION & LOTS OF HARD WORK Representing the Philippines in Paralympic Sailing in the Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games (CHN), Cherrie Pinpin crewed the 2-person, SKUD 18 keelboat. She is a national sailor with a physical disability who represents the Philippines in local and international sailing competitions.   A Sailability Philippines volunteer, Cherrie Pinpin's design experience helps her manage the non-profit organization's online presence, provide written and visual content plus assist with event planning. She also helps train and organize the disabled sailing team in competitions. Sailability Philippines is a registered, volunteer-led organization which encourages Filipinos with a disability to experience sailing as part of their rehabilitation while seeking to develop a Filipino sailing team to successfully compete up to the Paralympic level. Prior to sailing, Cherrie Pinpin was a bemedalled Philippine Shooting Team athlete, she specialized in Air Rifle as a member of the University of the Philippines Rifle Pistol Team (UPRPT). Cherrie earned a berth in National Shooting Team,  after winning medals in PNSA's yearly National Open, local and international shooting events.   Shifting to water sports–in the 90's eventually led to discovering a talent for sailing. Cherrie represented the Philippines in the demo sport of sailing for persons with a disability, in the 2005 ASEAN Para Games and went on to win sailing medals in able and disabled sailing events in the followng years since.   Competitions in 2008: Won the Women's Air Rifle Standing bronze medal, in the 4th ASEAN Para Games (THA) after a 17-year hiatus from target shooting. Qualified the Philippines for a Paralympic Sailing berth after competing in the IFDS Two-Person Keelboat World Championships (SIN). Represented the Philippines in Paralympic Sailing, Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games (CHN) as crew on the SKUD 18 2-person keelboat event. Swept top sailing awards in Taal Lake Yacht Club' Balai Isabel Round Taal Volcano Regatta (PHI).   Cherrie with crew Jeff Bugeja took 1st place in the Open PY and Homebuilt classes, TLYC's 2011 Round Taal Volcano Regatta (PHI), shortly after placing 5th (Open) and 2nd (Women's) in the 2011 APL/NOL Sailability Singapore Open Regatta (SIN).   When not engaged in trying to master the finer points of watersports video editing or creating social media content, Cherrie continues honing her multihull handling skills, helming Topcat catamarans in RYC's 3 Island Challenge 2015 or a homebuilt W17 trimaran, in the 2012 RTV.   Having achieved all these honors in elite sport by someone supposed to be physically impaired (but forgets that bit), Cherrie hopes to inspire everyone to find their own area of awesome. If you're still reading this far looking for clues, Cherrie says that to master any sport or undertaking, it should be fascinating and fun then all else will follow. This is from someone who finds challenge a refreshing way to grow. May you live in interesting times! Drop me a note on your journey!