Mavi Delivers Commanding Performance in Detroit at Helly Hansen SWRS
Detroit, Mich. (June 2, 2026) — The 2026 Helly Hansen Sailing World Regatta Series returned to Detroit's Bayview Yacht Club over the May 30–31 weekend, bringing together more than 100 boats from across the Great Lakes and beyond for one of the region's premier early-summer regattas. Against the backdrop of the Detroit River and Lake St. Clair, the Melges 24 fleet completed five races over two days of competition as teams continued to build momentum toward the heart of the 2026 season.
At the front of the fleet, there was little doubt about who had found another gear.
Bora Gulari's Mavi put together a commanding performance to secure the overall victory, consistently separating itself from the competition and leaving little room for challengers to close the gap. Racing with Kyle Navin, Nick Marcalini, Chuck Molesta, and Lila Torrenson, Mavi showcased the depth of experience and execution that has become synonymous with one of North America's most accomplished Melges 24 programs.
Finishing second overall was Andrew Picel aboard Takeoff, while Sandy Askew's Flying Jenny completed the podium in third. Each team delivered strong moments throughout the regatta, but neither could match the consistency demonstrated by Gulari and crew across the five-race series.
Beyond the overall standings, the Corinthian division once again delivered one of the most competitive storylines of the weekend.
Lindsay Duda at the helm of Sin Duda! emerged as the top Corinthian skipper, securing the division title while finishing fourth overall against a fleet that included several professional-caliber programs. Her performance further places a spotlight on the growing strength and depth of amateur competition within the Melges 24 Class and continued a season-long trend of Corinthian teams surging near the front of the fleet.
Following Duda in the Corinthian standings were Melges 24 stalwarts — Fred Rozelle on Rustler in second, Jaime Torres on Smile and Wave in third, and Canadians Dan Berezin aboard Surprise in fourth, and skipper Mike Gozzard aboard Rush in fifth. The results are indicative of the growing competitiveness of the division, with both American and Canadian teams represented among the leaders.
Detroit has long been a cornerstone venue for Great Lakes one-design racing, and the 2026 edition of the Helly Hansen Sailing World Regatta Series once again delivered close competition, strong participation, and valuable championship-level racing. For Melges 24 teams, the regatta marked another important stop on the Quantum Melges 24 Great Lakes Cup Series and offered an opportunity to measure progress as attention increasingly turns toward the summer championship calendar.
With Detroit now in the books, teams shift their focus to the next stage of the season, carrying forward both lessons learned and momentum gained from one of the Great Lakes' most established racing venues.