Peter Karrié’s ‘Nefeli’ Sets the Pace on Opening Day of Bacardi Invitational Regatta
7 March 2025 - Miami, FL, USA - The Bacardi Invitational Regatta kicked off in spectacular fashion, welcoming over 600 sailors from 24 countries to Biscayne Bay. Among the competitive fleets taking to the water, the Melges 24 class delivered thrilling action, with Peter-David Karrié’s Nefeli (GER 859) setting the early benchmark.
Sailing in near-perfect Miami conditions, Karrié and his crew put on a masterclass of consistency, scoring 5,1,1 across three races. After finishing second last year, Nefeli looks determined to take the top step this time around.
“It was a great day for us, but we know how tough this fleet is. Staying sharp and adapting to the shifts was key,” said Karrié post-racing.
Close behind, Richard Reid’s Zingara (CAN 853) and Vladimir Prosikhin’s Nika 860 (ITA 854) also delivered strong performances, navigating the fleet with precision to stay within striking distance.
Provisional Melges 24 Standings – After Race 3
Peter-David Karrié (GER 859) – 7 pts
Richard Reid (CAN 853) – 11 pts
Vladimir Prosikhin (ITA 854) – 12 pts
Top Corinthian Teams Making Their Mark
The Corinthian fleet—where amateur sailors go head-to-head without professional crew—delivered a fiercely competitive opening day. Leading the charge is Jaime Torres’ Smile and Wave (USA 829), who sailed consistently to post a 9,11,13 scoreline, earning the top Corinthian spot with 33 points. Just one point behind, Stuart Simpson’s Team Barbarians (GBR 691) kept the pressure on with a 10,13,11 series, proving that experience and teamwork are key in this tightly packed fleet. Rounding out the top three is Jan Frederik Dyvi’s Team RRH (NOR 749) with 36 points, bouncing back with an impressive 8th-place finish in the final race of the day.
With such close margins, the battle for Corinthian honors is far from over. Expect more tactical duels and high-stakes racing as the teams push for podium positions in the coming days.