2017 Bacardi Cup
Regatta Preview
Bacardi Cup 2017 is about to start in Miami, Florida. The first warning signal of the 90th edition of the historic regatta, that first took place in the Cuban waters of Havana, will blow tomorrow March 6th at 11,55 local time – if the strong North-East wind blowing over 22 knots will calm down, proving wrong the weather forecast. A six day challenge in the traditional Star Class format with one 2.2 miles race per day, attracts every year some of the best Star Sailors in the world at Coral Reef Yacht Club.
Last year's winner is back without his skipper: Frithjof Kleen from Germany will be sailing with Jack Jennings from Chicago, Illinois. The Bacardi Cup 2014 and 2015 winner and President of the ISCYRA Lars Grael and crew Samuel F M Gonçalves are also back here to try to win the 3,000 points worth for the SSL Ranking. For the first time at Bacardi Cup, the SSL, is giving out as many points as any other SSL Grand Slam to the winner and this event will be a test for the SSL Sea Grand Slam, the one that takes inspiration from traditional regattas celebrating the champions that are the inshore regattas legends with long routes and races, not more than two per day, lasting up to two hours. Local champions have been training here in Miami in the past week, before the wind conditions got too tough even for these heroes. The reigning Star World Champion Augie Diaz and Brazilian crew Bruno Prada, Lars Grael and Jack Jennings have been sailing watched by three-times World Champion coach Luca Modena.
The two times winner of SSL Finals (2014/2016) Mark Mendelblatt has also arrived and is tuning his boat with other winners of previous Star Sailors League events: Xavier Rohart (two times World Champion 2003/2005 and Bronze Medalist Athenes 2004) and Pierre-Alexis Ponsot who won the SSL City Grand Slam 2016 in Hamburg, Germany and the 2012 Bacardi Cup; George Szabo (World Champion 2009) winner of the SSL Lake Grand Slam and SSL Finals 2015 flew in Miami from San Diego, California to meet Italian crew Edoardo Natucci to get their boat ready.
The vice-president of the International Star Class Yacht Racing Association and 2016 Star Sailors League finalist Hubert Merkelbach is sailing with the #1 crew of the SSL Ranking Sergio Lambertenghi (second at the Worlds 2014/2015/2016 and second at the 2016 Bacardi Cup. SSL Finalists Eivind Melleby (2013/2014/2015) and Joshua Revkin (2013/2014/2015/2016) are back sailing together as they were at the 2016 SSL City Grand Slam in Hamburg, Germany where they finished second. Another 2015 SSL Finalist Brian Ledbetter will be sailing with Eric Ledbetter.
Some younger sailors will also be on the start line tomorrow: Luke Lawrence and Ian Coleman who finished fifth at the 2016 Worlds and 2015 Star Sailors League finalists will be there along with Tomas Hornos (2012 Western Hemisphere Champion and 2013 Star Sailors League finalist) and Stuart MacIntosh.
Final Report
The breeze builds up shortly before 1:00pm today with seven knots from NNE and the RC got the boats on the starting line with the black flag up. Unfortunately, too many boats were over and PRO was forced to call a general recall that caused an automatic abandon as per SI rule 6.1 that stated no racing after 13:00. Mark Mendelblatt / Magnus Liljedahl (USA 8481) won the 90th Bacardi Cup Regatta. The dynamic duo automatically became the winners ahead of Xavier Rohart / Pierre Alexis PONSOT (FRA8237) and of George Szabo / Eduardo Natucci (USA 8320) who were today’s light air favorite. “The breezed filled in nicely and we were all eager to start.” Said Mark Mendelblatt.
“We did not have a great start and we were happy for the recall, but soon after we realized that the cutoff time arrived. I did the Bacardi Cup ten times and Miami is my town, I’m extremely happy to have won this prestigious regatta and would like to thank Bacardi, it’s great!” added Mendelblatt. Magnus Liljedahl was also very happy and commented: “Would have been nicer to win it after today’s race, but I’ll take the win… a win is a win! I’m feeling better than earlier this week, Star sailing is a good workout, but most of all I’m happy to go out there and learn every time.” Concluded Liljedahl. Mark Mendelblatt is a previous two-time winner (2005 and 2013) and Magnus Liljedahl has won it 6 times as crew.
Second place winners Xavier Rohart (FRA) and Pierre Alexis Ponsot (FRA) are now leading the SSL Ranking followed by George Szabo (skipper) and Sergio Lambertenghi (crew) in second and by Diego Negri (skipper) and Bruno Prada (Crew) in third. Details can be found at StarSailors.com, the SSL Ranking will be updated as usual on Tuesday.
Third place for George Szabo (USA) and Edoardo Natucci (ITA) (USA 8320), they would have had a great chance to bring the Cup home on a light day like today. For everyone there is still the chance to compete and win the Cup in 2018 that is scheduled for March 4th.
Top Five Overall:
1. USA8481 Mark Mendelblatt and Magnus Liljedahl – 13 pts
2. FRA 8237 Xavier Rohart and Pierre Alexis Ponsot – 15 pts
3. USA 8320 George Szabo and Eduardo Natucci – 18 pts
4. BRA 8474 Lars Grael and Samuel Goncalves – 20 pts
5. USA 8509 Augie Diaz / Bruno Prada – 23 pts
Results
