On Thursday March 5th, Bacardi Invitational Cup’s staple Star Class was joined by the complete line-up of one-design classes racing at the Bacardi Invitational Regatta. The Melges 24 took on its first day of racing. The blend of sailors battling it out for glory on Biscayne Bay was destined to be phenomenal, with a mix of professional rock stars and super-talented Corinthian teams.

RACE DAY 1
Out on the track first were the Melges 24s, racing in the southern part of Biscayne Bay, starting out in a fluky 5-6 knots before the breeze steadied to 9-10 knots. Three races were held with the big hitters out front early on. Bora Gulari and his team of Kyle Navin, Norman Berg, Ian Liberty and match racing superstar Taylor Canfield set the pace to secure two wins and a second place to lead the day overall. They know what it takes to win, having wrapped up victory in Event No. 2 of the Melges 24 Bacardi Winter Series in January 2020. Only two points behind was KC Shannon at the helm of Shaka with crew members Jackson Benvenutti, Ben Lynchi, Tom Sawchuk and Elizabeth Whitener. Peter Duncan racing Raza Mixta with tactician Victor Diaz de Leon and crew Mattero Ramian, Carlos Robles and Willem Van Waay claimed third. Duncan and crew were fresh from their Melges 24 victory at last month’s 2020 NOOD Regatta where they nailed an all-win scorecard. 

RACE DAY 2
After a very stormy morning, with gusts of wind weaving through from all directions and a short postponement ashore for some classes, Melges 24 teams headed out to the water for the penultimate day of racing at the Bacardi Invitational Regatta in Miami, Florida. 

In the Melges 24 fleet, overnight leader Gulari sailing USA 820 surrendered track performance to Raza Mixta’s Peter Duncan who gained two firsts and a secon. Gulari however held onto first overall on tiebreak advantage. Realistically, unless there is a major change in form, the fight for first and second would be destined to be between these two teams. On an 11 point deficit to the leaders and in third overall going into the final day is Shannon. Claiming the third race win of the day was top Corinthian Team Sebago that included helmsman Jan Frederik Dyvi, Jan Boro, Herman Horn-Johannessen, Malin Rorvik-Sundelin and Stian Ness Rorvik, seated 11th overall.

RACE DAY 3 - FINAL DAY
Final tough, rough and exhilarating conditions showed up in Biscayne Bay on the last day at the Bacardi Cup Invitational Regatta. An average 15 knots breeze, with gusts of over 20 knots, tested teams and served up a spectacular final day for sailors and the spectator flotilla following the racing.

Two races for the Melges 24s produced two stunning wins for Gulari, winning the event overall by a 13 point margin. Second went to Duncan, while KC Shannon remained in third overall despite being black flagged in the last race.

“It was a glamour day out there today,” said Taylor Canfield helm of the winning crew. “Biscayne Bay is great in this condition and we had two wins to close the event. I am sailing with a great team, they are really sharp and make my work a lot easier. This was a great tune up for the 2020 Worlds that will take place in Charleston in May. We have learned a lot. It’s my first event in the class after some time and I loved it.”

With the conclusion of the third and final event of the 2019/2020 Melges 24 Bacardi Winter Series, Gulari has also gone on to win the overall Champion title by a substantial margin, ahead of 2019 U.S. National Champion Michael Goldfarb’s Warcanoe in second. Canada’s Richard Reid racing Zingara completed the top three podium positions.

Steve Suddath’s 3 1/2 Men, seated fifth overall, also captured the prestigious Corinthian Winter Series title. 2019 Champion Megan Ratliff racing Decorum, came third, followed by Germany’s Thomas Beck at the helm of Phonobloc.