Peter Duncan's Raza Mixta Grabs the Victory of the Bacardi Invitational Regatta in the Final Race

March 12, 2023 - Miami, FL, USA - Melges 24 2022 World Champion Peter Duncan and his crew of Victor Diaz de Leon, Patrick Wilson, Morgan Trubovich and Erik Shampain on Raza Mixta, win the final race of the Bacardi Cup Invitational Regatta to secure victory in the Melges 24 Class. 

The never-ending pursuit of excellence was all apparent on the final day of racing at the 96^th Bacardi Cup and Bacardi Invitational Regatta. Biscayne Bay delivered another stunning day, with an offshore breeze changing the race track strategy.

With just one point separating the top two boats going into the final race, the stage was set for either ‘Pacific Yankee’ or ‘Raza Mixta’ to win.

Pacific Yankee USA865 of Drew Freides - Bacardi Cup Invitational Regatta 2023

Martina Orsini

Peter Duncan’s ‘Raza Mixta’, who was on a one-point deficit to ‘Pacific Yankee’, opted for a mid-line start and accelerated up the left side of the track to hold the advantage at the first mark. A shock performance for Drew Freides’ ‘Pacific Yankee’, who found themselves languishing 4^th to last at the first mark, and facing what proved an impossible task to make up lost ground.

Full Throttle USA849 of Brian Porter - Bacardi Cup Invitational Regatta 2023

Martina Orsini

 Whilst ‘Raza Mixta’ went on to take the win, ‘Pacific Yankee’ did manage to claw through to finish in 14^th and consoled themselves with second overall. Safe racing from Brian Porter’s team on ‘Full Throttle’ saw them safely hold on to third overall.

Raza Mixta USA 829 of Peter Duncan with Victor Diaz de Leon, Patrick Wilson, Morgan Trubovich and Erik Shampain - Bacardi Cup Invitational Regatta 2023

Martina Orsini

Speaking on their win, tactician Victor Diaz de Leon, laughingly said, “We had really good team chemistry and sailed very well the first day, well the second day and very well the third day! We made it happen and we are very happy. We had different conditions with the onshore breeze the first two days and we finished with the offshore breeze. It was shifty.
 
“Today our goal was to sail safe and sail clean and not worry about other boats. In an offshore breeze it is very hard to cover people and you often have to sail forward in order to do well. It worked. It was a good strategy.”
 
On the thrill winning, Diaz de Leon, commented, “There are a lot of great teams here and we respect all of them. We are very excited to get the win because it is such a tough fleet. We love this event because of the camaraderie, the organisers put up a great party and it is a lot of fun.

“I think the biggest secret for our team is how much fun we have together and that helps our performance," said Victor Diaz de Leon. "The guys did amazing, they hiked so hard all week, and Peter drove very well. We had a great vibe onboard.”

Team RRH NOR749 of Jan Fredrik Dyvi - Bacardi Cup Invitational Regatta 2023

Martina Orsini

In the Corinthian division, Jan Frederik Dyvi's Norwegian crew on Team RRH finished 3rd in the final race and jumped ahead of the current leader, Megan Ratliff's Decorum to secure the Corinthian victory. To complete the Corinthian podium was Steve Suddath's 3 & 1/2 Men.

Team RRH NOR749 of Jan Fredrik Dyvi - Bacardi Cup Invitational Regatta 2023

Melges 24 (One Design - 25 Boats)

1. RAZA MIXTA, Peter Duncan / Victor Diaz de Leon / Patrick Wilson / Morgan Trubovich / Erik Shampain, USA - 1 -3 -3 -5 -3 -[15] -1 ; 16
2. PACIFIC YANKEE, Drew Freides / Nic Asher / Charlie Smythe / Alec Anderson / Mark Ivey, USA - 2 -4 -4 -3 -1 -11 -[14] ; 25
3. FULL THROTTLE, Brian Porter / RJ Porter / Bri Porter / Matt Woodworth, USA - 4 -2 -[13] -13 -2 -1 -6 ; 28
4. Monsoon, Bruce Ayres / Thomas Dietrich / Edward Hackney / Chelsea Simms / Jeremy Wilmot, USA - 7 -1 -7 -10 -[13] -6 -4 ; 35
5. ZINGARA, Richard Reid / Brian Kamilar / Ian Sloan / Billy Gooderham / Madelin Gill, CAN - 3 -5 -12 -[18] -6 -5 -7 ; 38
6. ALTEA HERMES Andrea Racchelli / Enzo Bonini / Andrea Serpi / Tony Stanley / Marten Kendrick , ITA - [15] -9 -14 -2 -11 -2 -5 ; 43
7. DARK ENERGY, Laura Grondin / Tailor Canfield / Mike Buckley / Ian Liberty / Rich Peale, USA - 11 -10 -9 -9 -[12] -3 -2 ; 44
8. NEFELI, Peter Karrié / Alessandro Franci / Niccolò Bianchi / Alessandro Saettone / Saverio Cigliano , GER - 9 -6 -2 -11 -[19] -4 -16 ; 48
9. ZENDA EXPRESS, Harry Melges IV / Orrin Star / Eddie Cox / Frannie Shaw / Ripley Shelley, USA - 8 -[15] -5 -7 -7 -13 -12 ; 52
10. BOMBARDA, Andrea Pozzi / Nicholas Dal Ferro / Matteo Ivaldi / Stefano Ciampalini / Carlo Zermini, ITA - [16] -13 -10 -14 -5 -9 -8 ; 59
11. STIG, Alessandro Rombelli / Stefano Cherin / Giorgio Tortarolo / Manuel Modena / Federica Salva, ITA - [26/UFD] -7 -1 -1 -26/RET -10 -15 ; 60
12. TEAM RRH, Jan Frederik Dyvi / Jan Borø / Herman Horn-Johannessen / Stian Ness Rørvik / Malin Rørvik-Sundelin , NOR - 12 -16 -[21] -12 -4 -19 -3 ; 66
13. GAMECOCK, Peter McClennen / Anthony Katon / Mike Marshall / Allie Grey / Wilson Stout, USA - 5 -11 -[18] -16 -18 -7 -11 ; 68
14. WAR CANOE, Michael Goldfarb / Jonny Goldsberry / Chris Rast / Matteo Ramian / Chris Watters, USA - 14 -14 -6 -[17] -10 -14 -10 ; 68
15. SENTINEL, Geoff Fargo / William McBride / Jackson Benvenutti / Nate Housburg / Tucker Atterbury, USA - 13 -8 -[20] -15 -8 -17 -9 ; 70
16. DECORUM, Megan Ratliff / Hunter Ratliff / Steve Liebel / Miro Kaffka / Nicholas Diephouse, USA - 10 -17 -17 -8 -9 -12 -[20] ; 73
17. 3 & 1/2 MEN, Steve Suddath / Steve Burke / Shawn Burke / Dave Chapin, USA - 17 -18 -11 -4 -[26/UFD] -8 -17 ; 75
18. BLACK SEAL, Richard Thompson / Nigel Young / Jas Farnetti / Michele Gregoratto / Sara Zuppin, GBR - 18 -[19] -15 -6 -14 -16 -18 ; 87
19. ENTENTE, Chuck Lamphere / William Huerth / Taylor Just / John Porter, USA - 6 -21 -19 -[22] -15 -18 -13 ; 92
20. TRIPLE D’s, Dwight LeBlanc / Matt Marcelone / Eddie Adams / Mason Ryan / David Friend, USA - 21 -12 -8 -[24] -17 -20 -21 ; 99
21. DARKHORSE, Cuyler Morris / Will Welles / Stuart MacNeil / Connor Ratcliff / Emilia Ruth, USA - 19 -20 -16 -20 -20 -[26/UFD] -19 ; 114
22. TRAMP, Thomas Ritter / Drew Follet / Matt Koch / Otto Wenzler / Peter Wenzler, USA - 22 -22 -22 -19 -16 -21 -[24] ; 122
23. EXPRESS LANE, Frank A. Davenport / Kevin Alcock / Andrew Wilson / Jill Mecklenberg / Teresa Westin, USA - 20 -24 -24 -21 -21 -23 -[25] ; 133
24. REBEL, John Spierling / Jason VanHoorn / Scott Sorbie / Rob Bunn, USA - 24 -[25] -23 -23 -22 -22 -22 ; 136
25. HUZZAH, Greg Chamberlain / Andrew Stacer / Matt Lame / Matt Mercier / Lisa Mercier, CAN - 23 -23 -25 -25 -23 -[26/UFD] -23 ; 142 

Corinthian Top 3

1. TEAM RRH, Jan Frederik Dyvi / Jan Borø / Herman Horn-Johannessen / Stian Ness Rørvik / Malin Rørvik-Sundelin , NOR - 12 -16 -[21] -12 -4 -19 -3 ; 66
2. DECORUM, Megan Ratliff / Hunter Ratliff / Steve Liebel / Miro Kaffka / Nicholas Diephouse, USA - 10 -17 -17 -8 -9 -12 -[20] ; 73
3. 3 & 1/2 MEN, Steve Suddath / Steve Burke / Shawn Burke / Dave Chapin, USA - 17 -18 -11 -4 -[26/UFD] -8 -17 ; 75

Full results

Photo gallery by Martina Orsini