Please select your home edition
Edition
A+T Instruments 2024 Leaderboard

Bacardi Winter Series Event 2 Overall

by Bacardi Invitational Regatta 27 Jan 00:28 UTC January 24-26, 2025
Melges 24 – perfect Biscayne Bay racing conditions - Bacardi Winter Series Event 2 © Hannah Lee Noll

Three days of exceptional sailing on Biscayne Bay, January 24-26, set the stage to make Bacardi Winter Series 2 a perfect event. Miami delivered stunning weather and challenging conditions that tested every aspect of performance.

On the final day, under sunny skies and planning conditions, three races shaped the final podium in a variable 11-18 knot north-easterly knot breeze. Maintaining the pole position they claimed on day one, Peter Duncan and his two-time J/70 World Champion-winning team on 'Relative Obscurity' secured the J/70 series with a race to spare. Racking up two wins, Peter-David Karrié's 'Nefeli' team advanced to triumph in the Melges 24.

"My heartfelt congratulations to the winners," said Eddie Cutillas, Bacardi USA. "I look forward to welcoming everyone back in Miami in just a few weeks for the grand finale of the series at the Bacardi Cup Invitational Regatta."

The Bacardi Winter Series 2 wrapped up with the usual epic Bacardi soirée and prize-giving celebrations at Shake-A-Leg Miami.

Alongside the individual event results, J/70 and Melges 24 teams will add their points from BWS #1 and BWS #2 to their results at the Bacardi Cup Invitational Regatta (BCIR), March 5-8, 2025, to decide the overall series winner. Registration is open and entries have already tipped over one hundred entries for the J/70, Melges 24, Snipe, Viper 640 and VX One. The iconic Bacardi Cup celebrates its 98th edition from March 3-8, with almost seventy Star teams so far confirmed.

J/70: 'Relative Obscurity' wins with a race to spare

With another breakaway race win today, Peter Duncan's 'Relative Obscurity' sealed the overall J/70 victory, finishing with a 10-point margin and no need to sail the final race.

'Relative Obscurity' took control of the fleet from race 2 and never let go. Today though their performance almost unravelled in the opening race 7, as despite a good start they opted for the unfavored right side of the course and rounded the first mark mid-fleet. A phenomenal comeback pushed them back to finish in 4th, following up with their fourth win of the series to secure victory ahead of an impressive leaderboard of J/70 teams.

Stepping up to claim the final race win was Charles Thompson's 'Brutus III' who moved up to second overall.

Victor Diaz de Leon, tactician on 'Relative Obscurity', shared, "It was a really great event, great wind, great competition, great friends - a lot of fun!"

The reunited 2017 J/70 World Championship-winning team, including Willem van Waay and Jud Smith, showcased strong onboard chemistry, as Diaz de Leon added, "It was really tough competition and we are really happy to have come away with a win. We had great chemistry onboard and we are really enjoying being together."

Commenting on their dominance, Diaz de Leon explained, "It's always a great feeling to win, but we're focusing on the process and trying to get better every day. There's a lot of great competition out there, so we never felt like we had it in the bag. We knew we had to keep getting better because the other guys are really good, and they showed that yesterday and today. The competition was tough, and other great boats led races today. It was certainly a battle."

Cate Muller-Terhune's 'Casting Couch' rounded out the podium in third with a solid 3,6,10 performance, just 2 points off 'Brutus III'.

Mexico's Alejandro Pérez and his team on 'Algarete' had a mixed scoreline but a standout today. They claimed a win in the day's opening race and followed up with a 2nd place in the final race, to jump up to 8th overall. Their elation was evident as they made themselves heard on the course!

J/70 Overall Results: (after 9 races)

1. Relative Obscurity - Peter Duncan (USA 1311) - 29 pts
2. Brutus III - Charles Thompson (GBR 1123) - 39 pts
3. Casting Couch - Cate Muller-Terhune (USA 34) - 41 pts
4. Two Odd - David Jannetti (USA 25) - 58 pts
4. Superior 1 - Dick Kalow (USA 64) - 60 pts

Melges 24: 'Nefeli' claims victory with final race win

High-octane racing and a dramatic shake-up on the leaderboard saw Peter-David Karrié's 'Nefeli' soar to the top of the podium, thanks to two wins in the day's three races. The racing was exceptionally tight, with just 6 points separating the top four boats.

After discarding an 8th place in Race 2, 'Nefeli' counted an impressive all-top-5 scorecard - a performance that made the journey from Germany to Miami well worth it! Karrié was thrilled with his team's performance, saying, "It was a fantastic weekend for us. We really found a good mode, especially upwind."

A regular at the Bacardi events since 2019, this victory marks a milestone for Karrié. "It's our first win here. In March last year, we came close but finished 2nd. This time, it feels fantastic to finally win."

The competition was fierce and Karrié relished the challenge, particularly going into the final race tied on points and 1 point off first. "There were so many good sailors and big names. The easiest way to win was to take the last race, and we did it! We've been sailing together for a long time, like a family, and that really pays off."

'Zenda Express' with Harry Melges IV driving pushed hard, winning the opening race of the day which bounced them up to first. Follow-up scores of 3,7 couldn't match 'Nefeli', dropping them back to end the event in 2nd overall. Laura Grondin's 'Dark Energy' edged into third on tiebreak advantage over 'Melgina'.

For Karrié, Bacardi is an essential start to the season. "The venue is perfect for the Melges 24—flat water, warm weather, and the best way to kick off the year. Thank you to my team—everyone worked perfectly this weekend."

Not the expected conclusion for Paolo Brescia's 'Melgina', who slipped from control of the leaderboard to 4th after scores of 4,2,8 today.

Melges 24 Overall Results: (after 9 races)

1. Nefeli - Peter-David Karrié (GER 859) - 22 pts
2. Zenda Express - Harry Melges IV (USA 866) - 27 pts
3. Dark Energy - Laura Grondin (USA 864) - 28 pts
4. Melgina - Paolo Brescia (USA 8) - 28 pts
5. Sentinel - Geoff Fargo (USA 856) - 39 pts

Full results can be found here.

Related Articles

Meet the Grand Soleil Blue
The ultimate weekender with a sustainable build Grand Soleil Yachts has taken its first step on a new path with the launch of its first true weekender, the Grand Soleil Blue. Posted today at 1:55 pm
OOC delivers $133 billion for ocean action
Urgent challenges remain to meet global deadlines in a pivotal year for the ocean The Our Ocean Conference (OOC) has mobilized $133 billion in funding for ocean action over the past decade, according to a new report launched today by World Resources Institute (WRI) to mark the conference's 10th anniversary. Posted on 29 Apr
Ella Hibbert starts Solo Arctic Circumnavigation
A record-breaking voyage to spotlight a vanishing Arctic British sailor embarks on a record-breaking voyage to spotlight a vanishing Arctic and spark global climate action. Posted on 29 Apr
MMAG calls for vigilance and reporting
Seasonal alert and call to action survey for all mariners and offshore sailors As spring awakens in the Northern Hemisphere, a powerful migration is under way - not just of boats returning north from winter sailing grounds in the Caribbean, but of whales traveling thousands of miles. Posted on 29 Apr
A look inside the Spirit Yachts yard
A close look at what makes their yachts unique Traditional skills in boatbuilding could be regarded as a lost art from a bygone era. In the world of fibreglass and carbon, the joinery and laminating techniques of wood ribs and cedar strips are a thing of the past. Posted on 28 Apr
85th Anniversary of Operation Dynamo drawing near
Preparations are progressing well for the sailing from Ramsgate to Dunkirk The date for the Association of Dunkirk Little Ships (ADLS) fleet sailing from Ramsgate to Dunkirk is drawing ever nearer, and preparations are progressing well for this, the Dynamo 85 return. Posted on 27 Apr
Grand Soleil Blue: Finally in the water
Designed for those who want to enjoy sailing in total independence The official video of the Grand Soleil BLUE is now online: a yacht that redefines the concept of contemporary sailing: free, spontaneous, elegant, and sustainable. Posted on 26 Apr
Smarter at the Dock, Safer at Sea
How Upgrades Are Changing Cruising The service being offered by yacht manufacturers leaps forward every year - responding to a market which demands the highest quality in every aspect. Posted on 25 Apr
A+T Instruments 10th Anniversary Celebrations
"We set out to make the World's Best Yacht Instruments" Globally recognised yacht instruments company A+T Instruments is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year after a decade of successful growth by pushing the boundaries of quality and customer service. Posted on 25 Apr
Leopard Catamarans unveils Leopard 46
This innovative sailing catamaran marks a bold advancement in design, technology, and comfort Leopard Catamarans, a world-renowned leader in sailing and power catamarans, is excited to introduce its latest model: the Leopard 46. Posted on 25 Apr
Marine Products Direct 2023 - Calypso FOOTERNorth Sails Loft 57 PodcastPantaenius Sail 2025 ROW Footer