Honoring the Past, Leading the Future

President's Message
 

Dear Fellow Star Class members,
 
2024 is off to a great start. Many fleets have held their annual meetings and filed their reports in the Month of January as required by the LOG. About half of our active members have paid their 2024 dues.  While this is an improvement, we can do better.  If you haven’t paid your 2024 dues, please do it today by clicking here. 
 
In the USA we have enjoyed the typical and excellent racing in the Star Winter Series and recently completed the 97th Bacardi Cup. 73 boats entered the Bacardi Cup and Biscayne Bay served up a challenging week of conditions. The racing was close and 3 teams were tied for the lead going into the last race.  It doesn’t get better than that folks!  Our great partner, Bacardi, once again set the standard for hospitality and creating a fun atmosphere ashore while the clubs and sailing centers of Coconut Grove did excellent course work out on the water.
 
The Class Management Committee, IGC, newly formed Marketing Committee and the Judiciary Board, all met during the Bacardi Cup.  Apart from insuring the policies and administrative elements of the Class were in order, a lot of good work was done. We are taking a proactive stance on everything from budget, to membership, to marketing.  The SEA program exceeded everyone’s expectations.  Eleven U30 teams were supported by the Class and Bacardi; each U30 team had a mentor for the week, and two “round Tables” were held in which the legends of the Class passed on valuable experience to the next generation.  All in all, a very solid week of camaraderie underpinning great competition.
 
In Argentina, a new Star is about to be born.  The construction of boats in South America is critical to the growth of the Class as import tariffs are extremely prohibitive.  Thank you to Alberto Zanetti for being the godfather of this project.  In Sweden, Leif Carlson is making new molds once again in his constant pursuit of excellence for his C-Star.  We are grateful to Leif’s passion for the Star and his tireless work to produce high quality boats.  Our Italian builders continue to churn out highly competitive and beautiful boats, as they have done for decades.  Stay tuned for social media features on all our builders and our mast suppliers in the months to come.
 
I feel that our house is in order, we have competent people at all stations, youth is returning to the Class, we have new ideas we want to execute and most importantly, we have the enthusiasm and support of our members.  The future is bright!



Paul Cayard
ad Interim President, ISCYRA

KUSZNIEREWICZ/PRADA SECURE FIFTH STRAIGHT VICTORY AT THE 97TH BACARDI CUP

 
The climax of The 97th Bacardi Cup and Bacardi Invitational Regatta was a day of anticipation and pressure. The relaxed and friendly atmosphere in the boat park on the morning of the final day belied the intensity about to unfold racing against many of the best sailors in the world.
 
All eyes were riveted on the three-way tie-break to determine the winners of the 97th Bacardi Cup. Biscayne Bay set the stage for a spectacular finale, kicking off with a building 12 knots breeze and waves.
 
With unwavering focus, Mateusz Kusznierewicz/Bruno Prada controlled the fleet from start to finish, clinching an unprecedented fifth consecutive victory and once again forced the chasing fleet to walk in their shadow.
 
Eddie Cutillas, Bacardi USA, praised all involved, saying, “It was a tremendous week. The Bacardi Cup and the Bacardi Invitational is a feeling like family. Bacardi is all about family and heritage, and we feel that this fits in perfectly with our mission at this regatta. Six days of world class racing meld seamlessly into shoreside friendship and fun. Thanks to each and every one of you for being part of our unique annual sailing celebration.”
 
The 97th Bacardi Cup and Bacardi Invitational Regatta brought together over 200 teams, setting a new record for the event. More than 600 sailors from 25 nations, spanning North and South America, Europe and Asia competed for some of sailing’s most coveted titles.
 
Save the date for next year and come sail with us from March 2-8, 2025.
 
97th Bacardi Cup
 In a fleet brimming with former Bacardi Cup winners and Star World Champions, maintaining consistency across six races to seize the 97th Bacardi Cup title was never going to be easy.
 
After five races, Mateusz Kusznierewicz/Bruno Prada, Augie Diaz/Henry Boening and Doyle/Payson Infelise had elevated themselves into a class of their own, setting the stage for a three-way tiebreak showdown in the decisive race 6.
 
The showdown however never materialized, as Kusznierewicz/Prada took control from the start and never looked back.
 
The three teams all fielded strong starts separated along the starting line, with Doyle/Infelise to the right, Kusznierewicz/Prada in the middle and Diaz/Boening on the left. Doyle/Infelise continued up the right side, while Kusznierewicz/Prada went left. By the first mark, Kusznierewicz/Prada had secured a big jump on the fleet, leaving the other two teams back in 6th and 8th.
 
On the first downwind, Doyle/Infelise made inroads and geared up to second. They split through the gate and back upwind, where Kusznierewicz/Prada shook off their assault. Focusing on their own race, they accelerated away in stunning style to hold firm and take the win. Diaz/Boening crossed the line in 4th and Doyle/Infelise in 5th, securing second and third overall.
 
Following tradition, Eddie Cutillas of Bacardi was at the finish line to congratulate the winners of the 97th Bacardi Cup.
 
A meticulous performance from Kusznierewicz/Prada ensured they remained strong in the decisive moment. They have forged a genius and formidable team to remain as custodians of the Bacardi Cup Trophy and Tito Bacardi Cup for five successive years – in 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024. The duo first made history in 2024, as the only same-crew team to win four consecutive times and now return to the history books.
 
“We knew it was going to be tight racing as they are superfast, very smart, experienced sailors and we knew that we had to deliver everything,” commented Kusznierewicz. “It’s a fantastic feeling. I wish to everyone to win Bacardi Cup! It is a legendary regatta and to be part of it and making history it is special.”
 
Kusznierewicz attributed victory to their process, saying, “From the beginning we trust in our process. If you know how to set up the boat, if you know what to do before the race, when you know how to make decisions where to start, how to start, what to avoid, how to sail, the results will come and here we go. We’ve got it.”
 
“Five times in row is really out of the box in terms of the Star Class,” said Prada, who won his first Bacardi Cup in 2020 after fifteen years of trying. “It is a really tough class to win. Five in a row never happened before so it is some historical moment and we need to enjoy it. I am super proud to win five Bacardi’s, five Worlds and be a little part of the Star Class history.”
 
Kusznierewicz/Prada celebrated their remarkable achievement by sipping Bacardi rum from the iconic Bacardi Cup Trophy and Tito Bacardi Cup at the prize giving to huge applause.
 
There is plenty of potential in the Star fleet, with thirteen U30 teams competing. As the top placed U30 team in 20thoverall, Facundo Olezza/Ricardo Vadia will be supported by Bacardi to compete at the Star Class Worlds in San Diego, USA from September 4-13, 2024.
 
Final Top 3
1. Mateusz Kusznierewicz / Bruno Prada (POL 8559) - 14 pts
2. Augie Diaz / Henry Boening (USA 8509) - 17 pts
3. Eric Doyle / Payson Infelise (USA 8580) - 18 pts
 
Prizes were also presented to the age division winners:
U30 (skipper under 30) - Facundo Olezza / Ricardo Vadia
Master (skippers aged 50 through 59) - Eric Doyle / Payson Infelise
Grand Master (skippers aged 60+) - Augie Diaz / Henry Boening
Exalted Grand Master (skippers aged 70+) - John Dane III / Dave Martin
 
Text Credit: Luissa Smith
Photo Credits: Martina Orsini


Bacardi Results

2024 Major Regatta Calendar