Bacardi Cup Invitational Regatta 2025 - Day 2
by Luissa Smith 4 Mar 18:22 PST
March 3-8, 2025
Big breeze on Biscayne Bay, Miami, proved a test of endurance - Bacardi Cup Invitational Regatta 2025 © Marina Semenova
On day two of the 98th Bacardi Cup, the pressure mounted on Biscayne Bay, as strong winds swept across the water, prompting a postponement ashore.
Racing got under way at 1400 hours, with the fleet greeted by demanding yet thrilling conditions. A big breeze of 20 knots, big waves and a powerful swell combined for an epic day on the bay.
Sailing a Star in 20 knots of breeze is difficult and the two-hour race tested both skill and endurance. The top teams, who found the balance and the sweet spot with all the boat's settings, demonstrated the difference between them and the rest. Five-time defending champions Mateusz Kusznierewicz/Bruno Prada delivered another masterclass, dominating from start to finish and solidifying their reputation as the team to beat.
Experience proved decisive as Kusznierewicz/Prada showcased they are masters of all conditions. They burst off the start line with precision, five boats down from the committee boat and ready to execute their game plan. While Croatia's Marin Misura/Tonko Barac owned the best start, it was Kusznierewicz/Prada who methodically extended their lead up the first leg and beyond, to claim their second win.
Trying to catch the Croatians, Kusznierewicz/Prada waited for the first shift to make their move, as Kusznierewicz explained, "The whole idea was to go to the right. Paul Cayard did that first, but didn't gain much as the whole pack was close."
Commenting on the conditions, he added, "It was amazing when we sailed downwind. There were big clouds and when you are in the sun and there is a complete dark cloud behind you, it is unbelievable because you are sailing to the light, and you know there is some danger coming from behind. Then we had a beautiful rainbow. It was spectacular."
There was a moment midway through the final downwind leg, when it briefly looked as though Jack Jennings/Pedro Trouche might close the gap, but the defending Champions delivered a perfectly timed gybe. From there it was game over, as Jennings/Trouche succumbed to their superior skill and performance, leaving Kusznierewicz/Prada to sail unchallenged.
In the most positive sense, Kusznierewicz/Prada are the fleet's nightmare! Their ability, resilience and competitive edge make them formidable opponents. The question on everyone's mind is, how to break through when their attack is so full of energy and self-belief?
Behind them, the leaderboard changed throughout the race, as plenty of teams rose and fell. Jennings/Trouche were right behind the leaders at the first windward mark, in a leading pack including Jon VanderMolen/TC Belco and Eric Doyle/Payson Infelise. At the first leeward gate, there were almost a few wipeouts as teams rounded. Peter O'Leary/Joost Houweling upped their pace to second after a smart move going far off to the left downwind, with Paul Cayard/Frithjof Kleen pushing hard in third, followed by Jim Buckingham/Brad Nichol, Will Stout/Danny Cayard and Scott Barnard/Kilian Weise.
As the fleet turned into the second upwind, the breeze picked up, but the top three places remained consistent. Kusznierewicz/Prada leading, followed by O'Leary/Houweling and Cayard/Kleen close in third. The final downwind leg saw fluctuating breeze, but the leading boats held their positions to the finish. Their strong performance propelled O'Leary/Houweling up to ninth, while Cayard/ Kleen move up to second overall.
Cayard emphasized the enormity of the course today, saying, "It was a 2.2 mile windward leg, so very long and very physically demanding with the wind that we had. Our strategy was just to get off the line and get into some clear water and clear air, so I went right for a little while just to clear out and when we came back we were close to Mateusz. Mateusz slowly eked out a lead, he was going pretty fast. He sailed smart though too and they were right in phase with the shifts. For us it was a good day, we got third, and we had good speed."
Post race, teams headed to Coral Reef Yacht Club for the renowned Bacardi Happy Hour, followed by the North Sails debrief.
There are four races to go to prove who is the best. Tomorrow, Wednesday, March 5, the weather looks to be more of the same, possibly windier, with racing scheduled to start at midday.
Bacardi Cup U30 Program
Austria's Roman Stelzl/Pirmin Sablatnig continue to lead the U30 leaderboard, sitting in twenty-third overall.
Reflecting on their day, Stelz said, "It was just a great day. Sailing in these conditions is really rough, but it is worth it. Going 12 knots downwind and surfing down the wave is just so much fun, especially in the Star."
Ten U30 teams from six nations are receiving financial support through the Bacardi Cup U30 program, which was launched in 2023. The Star Class SEA (Star, Education and Access) Program has provided boats and paired teams with experienced Star sailors as mentors to accelerate learning and offer guidance.
Stelz added, "Bacardi as a sponsor is one of the main reasons why we are here, why we can have these boats. Also, the SEA Program helped us with that, and we are just so happy to be here and sail here against the best sailors and other U30 sailors."
Paul Cayard, Star Class President commented, "We are really trying to open the Class to new people, and we believe the boat is a fantastic boat and has a lot to offer. We are conscious that sailing has got more expensive over the last 30-40 years so for younger people there are barriers.
"We bought ten boats and fortunately, we had some great backing from The Schoonmaker Foundation and six families who are Star Class members. We are working on ways to expand these programs and give people more access to the Star Class. Bacardi's relationship with the Star Class and sailing is something really historic."
Bacardi Cup Invitational Regatta
The Bacardi Cup Invitational Regatta will kick off on March 6-8, with racing for the J/70, Melges 24, Snipe, Viper 640, and VX One. Over the three-day event, each fleet is set to contest three races per day, for a total of nine races.