Final Day

Without sailing the final race in the six race series, the Portuguese team of Afonso DOMINGOS and Bernardo SANTOS have won the 2004 Bacardi Cup. They are the first Europeans to win this regatta since it was first sailed in Havana, Cuba in 1927.

Canadians Ross MACDONALD and Mike WOLFS took second overall and Colin BEASHEL and David GILES of Australia took third. Americans Howie SHIEBLER and Will STOUT followed in fourth with defending Bacardi Cup champion Peter BROMBY and crew Lee WHITE fifth in the final standings.

“Winds were shifty all week and we enjoy those conditions,” said Domingos. “This is the best Star Class regatta in the world and we’re honoured to have done so well against a fleet of this calibre.”he said.

Friday’s race was won by Americans John MACCAUSLAND and Brad NICHOL with the British team of Iain PERCY and Steve MITCHELL in second. There was a tie for third between Beashel and Giles and the French 2003 World champions Xavier ROHART and Pascal RAMBEAU.

“Our next goal is to win the U.S. Olympic Trials and we’ve been working hard to finish really strong,” said Maccausland. “The Bacardi Cup, which I’ve sailed every year since 1981, is a great event. When you ask sailors which is their favourite event, it’s the Bacardi Cup for sure,” he said.

Xavier ROHART admitted that they finally woke up. The French team did poorly in the first four races and placed third on the fifth day.

The sixth race was delayed more than an hour with unsteady 12-knot winds coming from the north to northeast. After two general recalls, 20 boats jumped the start and were disqualified including many of the Star Class elite – Mark REYNOLDS (USA), Vince BRUN (USA), Marc PICKEL(GER), Flavio MARAZZI (SUI), Jali MAKILA.(DEN).

“Today wasn’t very good, we went over the line early,” said Reynolds. “You always want to win,” said the former Olympian and Star Class World champion, “but we’re also out here gauging the strength of the competition going into the U.S. Olympic Trials.”

Full results are available on the event website at the address below.