Winning the Bacardi Cup just got better

The Star Class will be hosting its 2018 World Championship in the USA, with nearly 70 teams vying for the title on October 8 to 13 in Oxford, Maryland. Among the field will be Italians Diego Negri and Sergio Lambertenghi, winners of the 2018 Bacardi Cup and beneficiaries of a new sponsor initiative between Bacardi and the Star Class.

Beginning in 2018, the winners of the Bacardi Cup will receive sponsor funding to defray costs to compete at the annual World Championship. The Italians are the first to benefit after being crowned in March as the winners of the 91st edition in Miami, USA.

“Bacardi is synonymous with the Star Class, and we have been united as partners for many years,” said Eduardo Cutillas, from Bacardi USA.

This partnership between Bacardi and the Star Class will see each year’s Bacardi Cup winners represent the Bacardi Company while competing at the next Star Class World Championship.

“Supporting the winners of the Bacardi Cup to compete at the Star Worlds is a natural evolution in Bacardi’s sponsorship of the Star Class, and supports our vision of the world’s best sailors racing together,” adds Sara Zanobini, Event Director of the Bacardi Cup Invitational Regatta.

The Bacardi Cup history started back in 1927 with the Bacardi family hosting a regatta on the then all new Star boats right in front of their factory in La Havana, Cuba. The challenge for victory has been tough ever since that first edition, when back then featured the best sailors from North America coming to win the trophy.

The race for glory has evolved massively, and since 1962 Miami has hosted the Bacardi Cup on Biscayne Bay, attracting the sport’s big names from around the world.

The tradition of camaraderie and high level competition are embedded in the Bacardi Cup, guaranteeing the world’s top sailors want to compete and fans want to watch the race track intrigue unfold.

Bringing their unique style to the event, the venerable Bacardi Rum brand and the Bacardi family, who have been active patrons since the inaugural Bacardi Cup was presented in 1927, will continue their active partnership in 2019.

The Bacardi Cup is now part of a larger format known as the Bacardi Cup Invitational Regatta, which incorporates many classes alongside the Star, including the J/70, Viper 640, Flying Tiger, and Melges 24. They don’t compete to win the Bacardi Cup, that is a Star prerogative, but they have their own Class titles and prizes and get to join a fantastic week of racing and fun at Coral Reef Yacht Club in Miami.

The 92nd edition of the 2019 Bacardi Cup will take place between Coral Reef Yacht Club, Biscayne Bay Yacht Club, Shake A Leg Miami and the United States Sailing Center on March 3-9 2019.

Star World Championship – Bacardi Cup Invitational Regatta

Source: Rachele Vitello