Bacardi Showdown: Dark Horse Wins the Battle, Mavi Wins the Season
The Melges 24 fleet at the Bacardi Cup Invitational Regatta once again proved why it remains one of the most competitive and internationally stacked classes in the sport of sailing. With 25 entries and a field split almost right down the middle between professional and Corinthian teams, Miami showcased both elite-level racing and remarkable depth of talent and ability from top to bottom.
From the outset, a familiar rivalry took center stage as Cuyler Morris’s Dark Horse and Bora Gulari’s Mavi picked up right where they left off at the U.S. National Championship, trading blows race for race. By the midway point, Mavi held a narrow advantage, but the leaderboard remained incredibly tight, with Brian Porter’s Full Throttle, Laura Grondin’s Dark Energy, and Sandy Askew’s Flying Jenny all within striking distance. With only a handful of points separating the top teams, the regatta remained undecided heading into the final day.
When it mattered most, Morris excelled. He and his team maintained composure in a pressure-filled finale to secure the Bacardi Cup title, reinforcing their status as one of the most consistent and competitive teams in the fleet. In a regatta widely viewed as a preview of the upcoming Melges 24 World Championship, the level of competition left little doubt—the Melges 24 fleet is operating at the very highest level.
Equally compelling was the intensity within the Corinthian division, where the racing was relentless from start to finish. Norway’s Jan Frederik Dyvi claimed top Corinthian honors at Bacardi Cup, followed closely by Stuart Hebb’s chartered Thin Ice and Jamie Torres’s Smile and Wave. Stuart Simpson’s Barbarians and Eddie Gary’s Troublemaker rounded out a deeply competitive top five, underscoring just how strong and evenly matched the Corinthian field has become.
With the Invitational Cup now complete, the three-part Bacardi Winter Series boasts a season defined by world-class competition. Congratulations to Bora Gulari’s Mavi on securing a repeat overall Bacardi Winter Series Championship win, a result built on strong and steady, high-level performance across all three events.
As expected, the Corinthian division delivered a knockdown, drag-out showdown between the class’s most dedicated all-amateur teams. Gary, Simpson and Torres battled hard throughout the series, but it was Simpson who ultimately came out on top to claim the 2026 Bacardi Winter Series Corinthian Championship title for the first time ever.
What makes these results particularly meaningful is the longevity and commitment behind them. Simpson and his blended Irish-English team have been fixtures in the class for more than two decades, while Gulari’s presence in the Melges 24 fleet spans just as long. Beyond his undeniable talent, what sets Gulari apart is the team he surrounds himself with—close friends who are not only trusted teammates, but exceptional sailors in their own right.
Congratulations to all competitors on an outstanding series. The bar has been set high—and the fleet now looks ahead to an even bigger stage in 2027 as Bacardi celebrates its 100th edition.