year on year the mission for excellence continues. Back on dry land after a thrilling
day on the water, sailors are invited to relax, unwind and soak up the renowned hospitality. With typical Bacardi flair, the free-flowing complimentary cocktails, food and music boost the fun factor and up the tempo for the party animals. Attracting a diverse cast of teams
from around the world, the event regularly hosts more than 500 sailors from 20+ nations who come to compete against an array of talent and heroes, and to be part of this unique event in Miami. Uniting generations, the Bacardi
Cup is like no other event combining six world class race days of pure drama and spectacle, followed by a party atmosphere ashore. The regatta remains a landmark event for the Bacardi Rum brand and for the Bacardi family. Despite its relaxed atmosphere
and nostalgia, the Bacardi Cup is known for its twists and turns as numerous sailing legends, Olympians, Star world champions and Bacardi Cup champions aplenty fight it out. It is no easy ride, and there is every chance the world’s best will find themselves overhauled by amateur teams and weekend warriors. Staking your place on the leaderboard is never assured and the challenge for victory remains as tough today as the first edition back in 1927. The event has never made
compromises as it brings together the world’s best all round sailors in a battle for the Bacardi Cup and Tito Bacardi Cup trophies. Since 1927, 45 different skippers have claimed the elusive Bacardi Cup trophy. As well as the overall trophies, whatever your age there is a prize category for you, with awards presented to the winners in the Masters (skippers aged 50-59), Grand Masters (skippers aged 60 and above), and Exalted Grand Masters (skippers aged 70 and above). With deep respect for the traditions of the Star Class, sailors face the challenge of one endurance race per day, and the zero-weight limit rule ensures the event remains accessible to all crew combinations. Back-to-back 2022 and 2021
Bacardi Cup champion,Mateusz Kusznierewicz fromPoland sums up why he, along with somany others, head toMiami year after year, saying: ‘It’s a brand. It’s a tradition. It’s a fantastic place. It’s a perfect time of the year. It’s great people. It’s this magic taste and feeling you have. Once you taste it, you want it again.’ Celebrating 100 years in 2027,
the Bacardi Cup will no doubt continue to lead the sport into the
Top: the Bacardi Cup has expanded its scope in recent years and now includes large fleets of sports boats, including a strong showing of J/70s, alongside the original Star Class regatta. Above: this year’s winners, Bruno Prada (left) with the Tito Bacardi Trophy and Mateus Kusznierewicz with the legendary Bacardi Cup itself
future and retain its role as a unique international sailing tradition. Progressing from the global popularity of the annual Bacardi Cup, it became a natural evolution to embrace other high-performance classes and the Bacardi Cup Invitational Regatta was born. The Bacardi Cup Invitational Regatta offers racing for the J/70, Melges 24, Viper 640 and VX-One sports boats, who prefer a short course style of racing, with multiple races held per day and only three scheduled race days overlapping a weekend. With an added pre-race day for boat setup and a practice session, this is a popular and well- proven format. Hugely popular, the J/70 has
been on the starting line in Miami since the first fleet was created. High-performance but stable enough for the whole family, the class features a huge depth of talent. The Invitational Regatta is a staple
for the fast and furious Melges 24 style of racing and the event is used as a USA national ranking event as well as settling the final score for the BacardiWinter Series. The Viper 640 is a relatively
simple boat to sail and easy to set up for the crew of three or four. Newbies pick up the nuances of the boat easily and the sailing experience is sure to put a smile on your face, whether amateur or pro. Simple, fast and fun is the mantra
for the VX One, which offers crews of two or three, from junior to advanced a thrilling and sporty sail. The Bacardi Cup and Bacardi Cup
Invitational Regatta are open to all – anyone who wants to take part is welcome. The Bacardi Cup Invitational Regatta titlemay include ‘invitational’, but that only refers to the ‘invited’ classes competing, as the event is open to teams from around the world. The organisers make it easy to
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