Nefeli Triumphs in Melges 24, Bacardi WS N.2
Sunday, January 26, 2025 - Miami, USA - Three days of exceptional sailing on Biscayne Bay, January 24-26, set the stage to make Bacardi Winter Series 2 a perfect event. Miami delivered stunning weather and challenging conditions that tested every aspect of performance.
On the final day, under sunny skies and planning conditions, three races shaped the final podium in a variable 11-18 knot north-easterly knot breeze. Racking up two wins, Peter-David Karrié’s ‘Nefeli’ team advanced to triumph in the Melges 24.
“My heartfelt congratulations to the winners,” said Eddie Cutillas, Bacardi USA. “I look forward to welcoming everyone back in Miami in just a few weeks for the grand finale of the series at the Bacardi Cup Invitational Regatta.”
High-octane racing and a dramatic shake-up on the leaderboard saw Peter-David Karrié’s ‘Nefeli’ soar to the top of the podium, thanks to two wins in the day’s three races. The racing was exceptionally tight, with just 6 points separating the top four boats.
After discarding an 8th place in Race 2, ‘Nefeli’ counted an impressive all-top-5 scorecard - a performance that made the journey from Germany to Miami well worth it! Karrié was thrilled with his team’s performance, saying, “It was a fantastic weekend for us. We really found a good mode, especially upwind.”
A regular at the Bacardi events since 2019, this victory marks a milestone for Karrié. “It’s our first win here. In March last year, we came close but finished 2nd. This time, it feels fantastic to finally win.”
The competition was fierce and Karrié relished the challenge, particularly going into the final race tied on points and 1 point off first. “There were so many good sailors and big names. The easiest way to win was to take the last race, and we did it! We’ve been sailing together for a long time, like a family, and that really pays off.”
Zenda Express with Harry Melges IV driving pushed hard, winning the opening race of the day which bounced them up to first. Follow-up scores of 3,7 couldn’t match Nefeli, dropping them back to end the event in 2nd overall. Laura Grondin’s Dark Energy edged into third on tiebreak advantage over Melgina.
For Karrié, Bacardi is an essential start to the season. “The venue is perfect for the Melges 24—flat water, warm weather, and the best way to kick off the year. Thank you to my team—everyone worked perfectly this weekend.”
Not the expected conclusion for Paolo Brescia’s Melgina, who slipped from control of the leaderboard to 4th after scores of 4,2,8 today.
In the Corinthian division, Melges 24 stalwart owner Stuart Simpson from the UK at the helm of Team Barbarians captured the overall all-amateur title. Up until today, Jaime Torres’ Smile and Wave held the lead over Canada’s Dan Berezin’s Surprise. They finished out the highly-competitive category in second and third respectively. At the close of Bacardi Winter Series 2, half of the fleet is racing in the Corinthian division.
The Bacardi Winter Series 2 wrapped up with the usual epic Bacardi soirée and prize-giving celebrations at Shake-A-Leg Miami.
Alongside the individual event results, J/70 and Melges 24 teams will add their points from BWS #1 and BWS #2 to their results at the Bacardi Cup Invitational Regatta (BCIR), March 5-8, 2025, to decide the overall series winner. Registration is open and entries have already tipped over one hundred entries for the J/70, Melges 24, Snipe, Viper 640 and VX One. The iconic Bacardi Cup celebrates its 98th edition from March 3-8, with almost seventy Star teams so far confirmed.
Melges 24 - Final results after 9 races
1. Nefeli - Peter-David Karrié (GER 859) - 22 pts
2. Zenda Express - Harry Melges IV (USA 866) - 27 pts
3. Dark Energy - Laura Grondin (USA 864) - 28 pts
4. Melgina - Paolo Brescia (USA 8) - 28 pts
5. Sentinel - Geoff Fargo (USA 856) - 39 pts