99th Bacardi Cup Day 5
by Hannah Lee Noll & Ana Stewart 7 Mar 06:30 UTC
March 2-7, 2026
Robert Scheidt & Austin Sperry win consecutive races and won't go down without a fight at the 99th Bacardi Cup © Anna Suslova
The 99th Bacardi Cup is headed for a final-day showdown. Will we see a Paul Cayard vs. Robert Scheidt match race? Just two teams are left in contention for the 99th Bacardi Cup title: Paul Cayard / Frithjof Kleen and Robert Scheidt / Austin Sperry.
Five-time Olympic medalist Scheidt won Race Five on Friday, narrowing Cayard and Kleen's lead to just three points and tightening the battle for one of sailing's most historic trophies.
Cayard holds the advantage. And everyone knows America's Cup veteran Cayard is no stranger to a match race. The stakes couldn't be higher: neither skipper has ever won the Bacardi Cup, despite their decorated resumes. Not for lack of trying.
After five races on Biscayne Bay, the American team leads the regatta with 5 points, followed by Scheidt and Sperry with 8. With the discard now applied, the mathematics are simple: only Cayard/Kleen or Scheidt/Sperry can win the 99th Bacardi Cup.
"Obviously we have a little advantage on Robert. We're confident. We have good speed and a little margin on him. I think he has to beat us by three or four places, so we'll try to stay close to him," said Cayard. "He has to be first or second in the race. If he's not, then he doesn't win. The logical thought is that if I have the opportunity to match race him and push us both down to twentieth, then the race just got a lot easier for us. Exactly how and when we might execute that, I have to think about it and dig deep into my America's Cup experience to decide what the smart thing to do is."
Cayard opened the regatta with three straight wins before posting a 2 and a 6.
Scheidt posted a consistent 3-3-4, then found the groove and won back-to-back races.
Scheidt controlled today's race from the start in a 12 to 15 knot breeze on Biscayne Bay's turquoise waters. Scheidt and Sperry crossed the finish line in first with big smiles, a private high five, and then an immediate look back to confirm Cayard's position. That's two consecutive race wins for the Brazilian entry. Will the late-game surge be enough to hoist the Bacardi Cup instead of the formidable Cayard?
Scheidt plans to stay focused on fundamentals: "Tomorrow, we'll try to get a good start and hopefully be ahead of him on the first cross," he said. "The first cross will be very decisive."
Regardless of the outcome, the Brazilian legend remains energized by the challenge. "We're improving as a team day by day," Scheidt said of the new power duo team with Sperry. "We're going to keep fighting because this is such a prestigious title to win."
Behind them, a second battle is unfolding for the final podium spot. Mateusz Kusznierewicz and Bruno Prada (POL) sit third overall with 12 points, while Diego Negri and Sergio Lambertenghi (ITA) remain close behind with 15. Expect a face-off tomorrow.
The two joked together at the docks after the race today. Diego suggested he might just sail fast and sail his own race, while Mateusz said "Hmm... I'm listening" with a mischievous smile on his face.
Grab the popcorn, the movie begins tomorrow.
One Race Left
The 99th Bacardi Cup concludes Friday with the sixth and final race scheduled for 11 a.m. on Biscayne Bay. With Cayard holding a narrow lead and Scheidt within striking distance, the regatta is set for a decisive finish between two of the sport's most accomplished sailors.
99th Bacardi Cup Results after Day 5: (top five, 5 races)
1. Paul Cayard/Frithjof Kleen (USA) - 5 points
2. Robert Scheidt/Austin Sperry (BRA) - 8 points
3. Mateusz Kusznierewicz/Bruno Prada (POL) - 12 points
4. Diego Negri/Sergio Lambertenghi (ITA) - 15 points
5. Eric Doyle/Payson Infelise (USA) - 22 points
Pure Miami Magic at the Bacardi Invitational Regatta
Bora Gulari, John Heaton, and Enrique Quintero hold narrow leads, while Chris Alexander rises far above his VX One fleetmates. The Bacardi Invitational Regatta delivered another spectacular day on Biscayne Bay, where turquoise water, sunshine, and a steady Miami breeze set the stage for tight racing across four international fleets.
With one day left to decide the champions, the leaderboards remain razor close in several classes. Across the J/70, Melges 24, VX One, and Snipe classes, 25 nations are represented — a reflection of the regatta's growing international pull.
J/70
John Heaton's Empeiria leads the J/70 fleet with 19 points after six races, but the scoreboard leaves little room for comfort.
Margaret McKillen's Magatron team in red sits just three points back, while Brian Keane's Savasana and Joel Ronning's Catapult remain within striking distance heading into the final day.
The fleet has delivered consistently tight racing throughout the week, with multiple different race winners and frequent shifts in the leaderboard. With several top teams clustered within ten points, the J/70 title remains wide open.
Melges 24
Bora Gulari's Mavi now leads the Melges 24 fleet with 15 points after six races, edging out Cuyler Morris's Dark Horse, who sits four points behind. Brian Porter's Full Throttle, Laura Grondin's Dark Energy, and Sandy Askew's Flying Jenny remain within range, creating a leaderboard where multiple teams could still claim the win. Only eight points separate the top five. It's anybody's game with two races planned tomorrow.
The fleet is particularly deep this year as teams prepare for the Melges 24 World Championship in the United States this fall, bringing a strong group of competitors to Miami. "This is an incredibly strong fleet," said Dark Energy tactician Taylor Canfield, fresh off a win in SailGP. "One of the boats at this regatta will win the world championship."
VX One
Chris Alexander's Counterproductive has separated itself from the rest of the VX One fleet. Despite suffering a mechanical issue resulting in a DNF, Alexander, sailing with Gracie Howie and Ricky Welch, holds a commanding lead after seven races.
Their consistent front-of-the-fleet performance has created a significant points cushion over Timothy Pitts's Colombian Princess and Evan Hoffman. Still, with several races remaining on the final day, the VX One fleet remains aggressive and unpredictable.
Snipe
The Snipe fleet features one of the tightest battles of the regatta. The Miami Snipe fleet is known worldwide for its high level sailing, featuring names like Ernesto Rodriguez, Augie Diaz, and Enrique Quintero, top ten teams at Snipe World Championships.
This week at Bacardi, we are seeing a great showdown between Quintero and Rodriguez. Quintero with crew Lorena Fundora lead with nine points, tied with Rodriguez with crew Marina Cano. Quintero holds the advantage on tiebreaks after winning the most recent race. The final race tomorrow will be decisive.
The Party Continues Ashore
As the sun set over Coconut Grove, sailors returned to Shake-A-Leg Miami where Bacardi hospitality once again took center stage. Cocktails flowed, music carried across the docks, and competitors from across all fleets shared stories from another memorable day on Biscayne Bay. It is a tradition as much a part of the Bacardi Invitational Regatta as the racing itself.
One Day Left
With all fleets still undecided, the Bacardi Invitational Regatta heads into its final day with plenty left to settle on the water. Will the current leaders hold their ground — or will Biscayne Bay deliver one last shake of the rum bottle before the trophies are awarded?
Gratitude
The 99th Bacardi Cup Invitational Regatta is supported by Centennial Bank, North Sails, Shore Premier Finance, Palm Beach Yachts, Regatta Brokerage - the Brian Kamilar Team, and Shake-A-Leg Miami.
Follow the Bacardi Cup and Bacardi Invitational Regatta