Coconut Grove
The best things in life are worth waiting for!
My teammate Frida and I just won the Bacardi Cup! — the most important Star Class regatta outside of the World Championship. I have been chasing that traditional sip of Bacardi rum for 46 years, ever since I first raced in the Bacardi Cup as crew for the late, great Tom Blackaller in 1980.
Over the years I’ve battled legends of the Star Class: Schoonmaker, Buchan, Wright, Brun, Reynolds, Dane, Diaz, Szabo, Bromby, Adams, Melleby, Domínguez, Doyle, Negri — and most recently Mateusz Kusznierewicz and their many great crews.
This year the fleet gained another formidable team. 3-time Star World Champion, Robert Scheidt returned to the Star sailing with Olympian, and 2024 Star World Champion, Austin Sperry. Between our two teams we won the first five races, setting up what I dare say was a final-race showdown for the ages.
Going into the last race with a three-point cushion, Frida and I decided to try to end the regatta before the start. With about five and a half minutes to go, we engaged Robert and Austin, and a fast and furious sequence of match-racing maneuvers followed for nearly five minutes.
By the start we had achieved 90% of our goal. Both boats were about 30 seconds late and buried in traffic. From there we tacked relentlessly on the five-time Olympic medalist, pushing both teams farther back into the fleet.
At the first mark we were an unusual sight — 26th and 30th.
For Robert to win the Cup from there would require an extraordinary comeback. And he almost pulled it off! After getting around us on the first run of the 10.6-mile race, Robert and Austin lit the afterburners and charged through the fleet to finish 10th. Robert Scheidt is unquestionably one of the greatest sailors of all time. And at 52, he still has plenty of runway ahead of him — I can attest to that.
2026 Bacardi Invitational Regatta © Anna Suslova Media
At the first mark we were an unusual sight — 26th and 30th.
For Robert to win the Cup from there would require an extraordinary comeback. And he almost pulled it off! After getting around us on the first run of the 10.6-mile race, Robert and Austin lit the afterburners and charged through the fleet to finish 10th. Robert Scheidt is unquestionably one of the greatest sailors of all time. And at 52, he still has plenty of runway ahead of him — I can attest to that.
Winning the Bacardi Cup makes my Star career complete. Not that I won’t try to win the 100th — but this was the one missing piece. The 200-pound monkey is finally off my back, and it feels great!!
I want to thank Bacardi for energizing the longest partnership in Sport. I want to thank Frida for being a fantastic crew — but even more importantly, a great teammate and coach. I love seeing my son Danny in the boat park every morning and competing well on the water. I am incredibly proud watching him grow as a Star sailor and as a man.
I am also proud of today’s Star Class for continuing to add to the prestige and standard of excellence built over 115 years. Our Under-30 sailors are our future and we are nurturing them. Our Over-80 sailors have our deepest respect. And everyone in between is what makes the class so special — both on the water and, just as importantly, ashore. We are family!
It is my honor and privilege to serve as President of the International Star Class.
Screenshot
Perseus 3 is the winner in the Grande Dames class of the 2026 St. Barths Bucket. The 60 meter Perini won 0n a tie breaker over Rosehearty, the winningest Perini of all time. In a wind shortened regatta, the two SuperYachts tied with a 1st and 2nd each but due to Perseus wining the last race, the tie was broken in our favor. Nin O’Leary, cool under pressure on the helm, was a main weapon. That said we did have an all star crew of 40 getting the massive 1/2 acre spinnaker up and down flawlessly.
