Bacardi Cup Invitational Regatta welcomes a formidable line-up of over 500 sailors to Miami

04.03.2022

March 4, 2022 - Miami, FL, USA - The Bacardi Cup Invitational Regatta is set to take place in Miami from 6-12 March 2022. The regatta kicks off with Star Class racing at the iconic Bacardi Cup on 7 March and the other classes - J/70, Melges 24, Viper 640, VX One and 69F — take to the race track from 10 March 2022.

The entry list features over 500 sailors from 20+ nations, showcasing the usual mix of sailing legends, World Champions, Olympians and pros lining up against weekend enthusiasts. There are few better venues in the world than Miami in spring, as the essential ingredients of warm weather, reliable breeze, camaraderie and exceptional hospitality ensure sailors flock to enjoy the BCIR. Demonstrating the appeal of BCIR and the world-class competition on Biscayne Bay, entry numbers have bounced back to pre-Covid heydays.

“Bacardi Cup and the Bacardi Invitational Regatta have always been all about the sailors,” commented Eddie Cutillas, Bacardi USA. “For the first time since 2020, we will return to hosting not only our usual top level sailing but also the aprés-sail for which Bacardi is renowned – with nightly cocktail hours, dinners, music and entertainment. After being forced to scale back the events in 2021, we are thrilled to return to a full line-up this year.”

Bacardi is rightly proud of the Bacardi Cup, which lays claim to being one of the most distinguished events in sailing and continues as a landmark event for the Bacardi Rum brand and Bacardi family, who have been active patrons since the beginning. As a fledgling event in 1927 in Cuba, the popularity of the Star Class and Bacardi brand meant the Bacardi Cup was destined for success. Throughout more than nine decades the Bacardi Cup has never made compromises as it brings together the world’s best all round in a six-day battle for the Bacardi Cup and Tito Bacardi Cup trophies.

“We are delighted to welcome so many sailors back to Miami – we have missed you all,” said Sara Zanobini, BCIR Event Director. “As an event organizer, our aim is to exemplify the unique style of the Bacardi brand and hit the sweet spot by offering world class racing and legendary shore side hospitality. I wish everyone a fantastic competition on one of the world’s most beautiful and demanding race courses.”

Bora Gulari and his team on New England Ropes headline the 27-boat Melges 24 fleet, after their back-to-back wins in 2021 and 2020. Conquering Gulari will require superior talent across all the wind and sea conditions Biscayne Bay will throw at the challenging teams.

Familiarity with the race courses always pays and nine of last year’s top ten return, so expect the usual masterclass of skills, including Travis Weisleder and his team on Lucky Dog who finished just behind Gulari last year and Bruce Ayres on Monsoon who finished 3rd.

Laura Grondin (USA), President of the International Melges 24 Class, opened the Bacardi Regatta series with a win in December’s event #1 and returns with the exact same well-oiled team to assert her authority and upgrade her 7th place from 2021.

Fresh faces to the USA Melges 24 racing scene include Germany’s Nefeli helmed by Peter Karrie and Drew Freides’ team on Pacific Yankee race in Miami on a new Melges 24.

For the U.S. Melges 24 Class there are two rankings in play via the Bacardi Cup. It marks the third and final stage of the 2021-2022 Winter Series which commenced last December. It is also the second event on the newly started U.S. National Ranking Series for 2022.

On the Winter Series front, one point separates Peter Duncan’s Rasta Mixta, in first place overall followed by Grondin. 2019 Melges 24 U.S. National Champion Michael Goldfarb on WarCanoe.

The all-amateur Corinthian division is destined for heated competition as well. Traveling from the West Coast, with clear 2022-World-Championship-focus, Geoff Fargo’s Sentinel is leading U.S. Class President Megan Ratliff’s Decorum by a slim margin. Currently occupying the third position, former Corinthian National Champion Steve Suddath’s 3 1/2 Men remains close and in striking distance of the trophy and title.