Bacardi Winter Series Event 1 in Miami, USA - Overall

J/70 – Great Britain's ‘Brutus' surges downwind in race 1 © Hannah Lee Noll

The highly anticipated Bacardi Winter Series Event 1, held December 14-15 on Biscayne Bay, Miami, faced tough conditions as strong winds impacted the racing schedule for the 46 teams in the J/70 and Melges 24 fleets.

Racing was suspended after one race on Saturday, December 14, with the weather intensifying on Sunday and proving too challenging for racing. However, the event vibe continued off the water at Shake-A-Leg Miami, where teams enjoyed a weekend of camaraderie and Bacardi's legendary hospitality.

Sunday's winds surged to 26 knots with gusts hitting 30 knots. The Race Committee initially postponed racing for an hour, hoping for conditions to moderate, but the forecast offered no let up. Principal Race Officer Mark Foster announced the cancellation at the morning competitors' briefing at Shake-A-Leg Miami. Teams continued to enjoy making the most of their time in Miami.

"Although the conditions on the water were demanding, it was still a fantastic weekend", commented North Sails' Allan Terhune, crew on the winning J/70. "We were all in to race, but the Race Committee made the right call.

"It was great to catch up with other teams ashore, and we truly appreciate the exceptional Bacardi hospitality, which makes the experience unforgettable. We can't wait to be back in January!"

Melges 24 – ‘Dark Horse' dominates the fleet in the only race contested at Bacardi Winter Series Event 1 - photo © Hannah Lee Noll

Teams gathered at Shake-A-Leg Miami to celebrate the podium finishers at the prize-giving ceremony. The overnight results stand after Saturday's race:

J/70 Final Results: (top five)

1. Cate Muller-Terhune / Allan Terhune / Steve Hunt / Nick Turney (USA 34) - 1 pt
2. Bruno Pasquinelli / Greiner Hobbs / River Paquin / Patrick Wilson (USA 240) - 2 pts
3. John Brim / Ian Barrows / Ed Lebens / Scott Ewing (USA 19) - 3 pts
4. Margaret McKillen / David Gilmour / Chuck Norris / Orrin Starr (USA 1523) - 4 pts
5. John Heaton / Will Felder / Mark Ivy / Goncalo Ribeiro (USA 169) - 5 pts

Melges 24 Final Results: (top five)

1. Cuyler Morris / Keiran Searle / Manu Weiler / Charlie Hibben / Elizabeth Whitener (USA 863) - 1 pt
2. Richard Reid / Brian Kamilar / Serena Vilage / Mark Spearman / Alan Johnson (CAN 853) - 2 pts
3. Brian Wynne / Eddie Adams / Ricky Welch / Emily Alfortish / AJ Pereira (USA 420) - 3 pts
4. Peter McClennen / Mike Marshall / Severin Gramm / Wilson Stout / Key Becker (USA 811) - 4 pts
5. Jaime Torres / Marty Kullman / Neil Battrum / Nick Amendola / Nick Barta (PUR 829) - 5 pts

Both the J/70 and Melges 24 fleets are primed for action as the series continues to BWS #2 on January 24-26, 2025. The finale will unfold at the Bacardi Cup Invitational Regatta, March 5-8, 2025.

bacardiinvitational.com