International field for Bacardi Cup

For nearly one century, the Bacardi Cup has attracted the world’s top sailors with its popularity and international intrigue. Started as a regatta for Star Class boats in Havana, Cuba in 1927, the Bacardi Cup is celebrating its 91st anniversary in 2018, and for 56 straight years, has called home the beautiful waters of Biscayne Bay.

For 2018, the Bacardi Cup Invitational Regatta continues to attract the best of the Star Class where a 6-race series will be held for the 81 entrants on March 5 to 10. Sharing the spotlight will be 49 J/70 teams on March 8 to 10 where eight races are scheduled.

The reigning World Champions in both classes – Eivind Melleby/ Joshua Revkin (NOR) in the Star and Peter Duncan (USA) and his team in the J/70 – will be competing.

An international field will be on the Star course with U.S. teams joined by a line-up from Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Croatia, Denmark, France, Germany, Great Britain, Ireland, Italy, Mexico, Monaco, Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, and Ukraine.

Notable on the Star course is Diego Negri (ITA) who claimed a medal at each of the 2014, 2015 and 2016 Star World Championships; Iain Percy (GBR) holder of Gold and Silver Olympic medals; Olympic Silver medallist Xavier Rohart (FRA); and Robert Scheidt (BRA), the multiple Olympic and World Champion in the Laser Class and 2008 Olympic Silver medallist in the Star Class.

Amongst those to challenge Duncan is his J/70 World’s winning teammate Jud Smith (USA) and 2017 Worlds runner-up Brian Keane (USA). Italy’s Vincenzo Onorato, who holds World titles in the Farr 40 and M32, will be racing his well-known Mascalzone Latino with a formidable team including three-time Olympian and Gold medallist in the Laser Class and two-time Moth Class World Champion Paul Goodison (GBR). Joel Ronning (USA), who won the 2016 Worlds, will also be in the field.

Event information – Racing details – Entry list – Facebook

Editor’s note: The Bacardi bat logo was first registered in 1862 and had been incorporated into the bow sticker for the Bacardi Cup. While it had been missing from recent editions of the regatta, we can officially report the bat will be back for 2018.