BACARDI Miami Sailing Week

With a sponsor like BACARDI, one can only try to remember exactly what happened this past week. 

The registration party and dinner was overwhelming. There was an array of garnished meats to go along with the free BACARDI, wine and beer that would be served all week. The opening event set the tone for what would be a hell of a week.   

Before heading out on the Melges media boat, I checked Facebook and saw a rather ominous picture posted by Bora Gulari sailing in the 24s. The picture was a radar snapshot showing a red monster swallowing southern Florida. I decided to bring my foulies out just in case.

The first day of racing for the 24s, 20s, Vipers and J24s was called after one race due to the storm that blew through.

The Italian stallions of UKA UKA dominated the 35 boat M24 fleet followed by Alan Field on WTF.

In the 26-strong fleet of M20s, Red Sky with Paul Reilly started off strong with what would be there only bullet for the event.

The Stars didn't even head out on this day, which would be their third day of racing. 

If you're wondering where the coverage is for the Vipers and 24s is, you should just stop reading now. Let's be honest, the only fleets at this event were the Melges and Stars. 

Sailors turned into sprinters as they ran off the dock to the Coconut Grove Sailing Center for cover. As one Alabama sailor so aptly put - it was raining like a “cow pissing on a flat rock.”

"The last thing we want is total carnage on the first day out there," commented, Jack, one of the event organizers over the radio. 

The storm had significantly cooled the air for Friday's racing as well as starting with winds of up to 20 knots, but decreasing throughout the day. This was a day to really see the M20s perform. They shoot off like rockets downwind.
 

 On Saturday, I got to spend some time on the Star course. While they are celebrating their 100th year, 93 of them graced the starting line with their presence. I asked skipper, Don Massey, what was the starts were like when he recalled, "We found a spot that we were going to have to battle the Norwegians for. When they saw what we had planned, their skipper turned to us and just screamed, 'NO!'" It was a lot of foresight and skill that helped others get clean starts across the line.

When awards rolled around, quite the party ensued. The highlight, though, was Mary Anne Ward of M&M Racing winning the M20 class and being what was announced as the first woman to win that particular class*.

All-in-all, it was a well-run event while everyone was out on the water. I made some great friends and had a ton of fun.  So, overall, I'd call the event a win. 

Video coming soon...

*That was announced, but not double-checked