Sailing Week continues in Biscayne Bay

Our cool (cold?) weather has affected the Bacardi Cup, which is underway in Biscayne Bay this week. The 60 degree weather was accompanied by "light air," which only allowed one of the two planned races that were to be held the first day of racing with the 56 Star teams. The sailors are all based here on the Coconut Grove waterfront, most are staying at Coconut Grove hotels.

nxious to get racing, the talent heavy fleet pushed the line which resulted in seven teams collecting OCS points as the headline event of the fourth annual Bacardi Miami Sailing Week (BMSW)  got underway in six knots of breeze. 

"Today's conditions were very tough, difficult to predict due to light wind and very shifty,” said Lars Grael, Brazil’s two-time (’88, ’96) Tornado Olympic Medalist, after he and crew Mario Logos won the day’s lone race.  “The RC did its best to get a good start. We were able to round the first mark in first and then able to get a good lead at the end of the downwind leg. The RC shortened the course and we managed to keep the lead until the end. Good competition out there against the Irish [skipper Peter O’Leary] and Augie Diaz (Miami, Fla.). Overall, [it was] a difficult day as it was very hard to predict the wind."

O'Leary, who crossed the finish line in second with crew Rodney Hagebols (AUS), concurred with Grael’s assessment.  "Second in today's conditions is not bad at all. We had a good start but after the first mark we never thought we could catch Lars. We will try to keep going strong and get single digit results and we might have a chance to finish first.”

Local Miami sailing star Augie Diaz, the 2003 Rolex Yachtsman of the Year, was happy with the third-place finish he earned with crew Arnis Baltins.  "A top-10 is hard to get at the Bacardi Cup! Except for Lars, who was leading with a good margin, everyone else in the top 10 was racing competitively. Too early to say who will win the Cup, but Lars and Peter will be tough to beat.  It’s no accident they are first and second today, I think they are the favorites."

Opening Sailing Week, on the Coconut Grove waterfront was the inaugural PRO-Am Charity Regatta which featured Diaz and Grael, along with defending Bacardi Cup Champion Xavier Rohart, 2009 Star World Champion George Szabo (San Diego, Calif.) and Melges 32 National Champion Jeff Ecklund at the helm of five Sonars on loan from Team Paradise. Sixteen people made donations to be aboard as crew for the day, with Sailing Heals, Shake-A-Leg Miami and Team Paradise coming out the winners as proceeds from the event went to benefit those organizations.

During Sailing Week sailors will enjoy the hospitality lounge, Bacardi Rum tastings, as well as the daily prize giving for the top-three finishers and the final awards dinner. A special exhibit of America’s Cup history and memorabilia will feature the work of Rhode Island-based photographer Cory Silken in the North Hall of the Coconut Grove Convention Center. Others from our community have booths set up there. The Coconut Grove BID has a booth, which is introducing the sailors to our village by offering maps, info and restaurant and store specials.

The exhibits will be open to the public from noon to 7:00 pm daily and are free of charge. The prestigious Coral Reef Yacht Club will coordinate on-water activities in collaboration with Biscayne Bay Yacht Club and Coconut Grove Sailing Club. The U.S. Sailing Center and Shake-A-Leg Miami will also support the event. Racing will be held on three separate courses approximately two miles out on Biscayne Bay. 

Photo by BMSW/Cory Silken