Miami, USA - December 14, 2024  The two-day Bacardi Winter Series Event 1 opened today, Saturday, December 14, for the forty-six teams racing in the J/70 and Melges 24 on Biscayne Bay, Miami. The strong breeze set the stage for a spectacular and thrilling showcase of speed, skill and teamwork.

The morning weather briefing from North Sails forecast the powerful and challenging conditions, which saw teams battle an east-north-easterly breeze gusting to over 25 knots. While the front of fleet players thrived on the exhilarating yet punishing racetrack, others found it a test of endurance, with more than a few wipeouts.

As the conditions closed in, with driving rain, escalating breeze and the imminent arrival of storm clouds, Principal Race Officer Mark Foster made the decisive call to abandon racing after the first race.

Back ashore, teams gathered for a lively race debrief hosted by North Sails, delving into key takeways from the day. Bacardi’s renowned hospitality then took centre stage, offering the chance to unwind with signature cocktails.

Racing continues on Sunday, 15 December, with a scheduled start at 1100 hrs. Alongside the challenge for podium places at BWS #1, teams will accumulate points as the series advance to BWS #2 on January 24-26, 2025, before culminating at the series finale, the Bacardi Cup Invitational Regatta, March 5-8, 2025.

Ruthless racing in the Melges 24 saw Cuyler Morris and his ‘Dark Horse’ team launch a winning opener. Controlling the fleet from the outset was Richard Reid’s crew on ‘Zingara’, who capitalised on their well-positioned mid-line start. Reid rounded the final windward mark ahead, but Morris had the speed advantage and reeled them in. Third to Brian Wynne’s team on ‘Trim Reaper’. 

Describing the day, Cuyler Morris said, “We had a decent start, small fleet and just hung in upwind and had good run in the breeze. Then it really got exciting in the top second run, which is where the breeze really came. I have been sailing with these guys for a while, so we’re kind of used to the heavy air and managed to slide downwind on that last run pretty nicely, before all the dark clouds really showed up. My crew is awesome. I couldn’t ask for a better group of people to sail with.”

Describing racing a Melges 24 in big breeze, Morris explained, “The boats are fast. They are challenging upwind and downwind. It’s like hot butter on a skillet downwind, especially in that breeze. You get people in the back of the boat and it just goes downwind. It’s a lot of fun!”

Melges 24 Provisional Top 10 results - after 1 race
1. Cuyler Morris / Keiran Searle / Manu Weiler / Charlie Hibben / Elizabeth Whitener (USA 863) - 1 pt
2. Richard Reid / Brian Kamilar / Serena Vilage / Mark Spearman / Alan Johnson (CAN 853) - 2 pts
3. Brian Wynne / Eddie Adams / Ricky Welch / Emily Alfortish / AJ Pereira (USA 420) - 3 pts
4. Peter McClennen / Mike Marshall / Severin Gramm / Wilson Stout / Key Becker (USA 811) - 4 pts
5. Jaime Torres / Marty Kullman / Neil Battrum / Nick Amendola / Nick Barta (PUR 829) - 5 pts
6. Jan Frederik Dyvi / Jan Borø / Herman Horn-Johannessen / Stian Ness Rørvik / Malin Rørvik-Sundelin (NOR 749) - 6 pts
7. Stuart Simpson / Sam Hunt / Fred Kemp / John Downey / Bernard FitzPatrick (GBR 691) - 7 pts
8. Alexander Korakis / Ashley Korakis / Jason Chavez / Nadia Daggett / OH Rogers (USA 737) - 8 pts
9. Connor Baker / Ella Baker / Max Baker / Devon Baker / Todd Jones (USA 078) - 14 pts
10. Roger Lyon / Owen Szafran / Kevin Alcock (USA 443) - 14 pts

Full Results