Hat Trick for Cayard and Kleen at the 99th Bacardi Cup
Coconut Grove Comes Alive as the Invitational Fleets Arrive
MIAMI (March 4, 2026) — Paul Cayard and Frithjof Kleen are undefeated with a 1-1-1 scoreline at the 99th Bacardi Cup. Three days in, and it’s been a test of endurance. With heavy breeze on Biscayne Bay, nearly 80 teams have battled through long, physical races, and the forecast calls for more of the same in the coming days.
Race Three delivered a gritty contest as the fleet reached the midpoint of the series. Cayard led wire to wire. The leaders started on the left, worked toward the middle, then returned left as the first beat developed. The first windward mark was fronted by Americans: Cayard, Brian Ledbetter, and Eric Doyle. By mark two, Norway’s Eivind Melleby and Ireland’s Peter O’Leary advanced. Little by little, Robert Scheidt recovered from a deep start and clawed his way back to fourth place overall, passing Mateusz Kusznierewicz in the overall podium.
On the final beat, Cayard extended his advantage and confidently took the win. Three back-to-back bullets. Hat trick secured.
With another bullet on his scorecard, he is distinguishing himself from Kusznierewicz and Scheidt, the trio that defined the opening days.
Cayard and Kleen, undefeated
“It was just beautiful sailing – as good as it gets on Biscayne Bay,” said Doyle, who finished second. “Paul stepped out a little bit on the final leg and showed why he’s leading the regatta right now.”
With three races complete, Cayard and Kleen now sit firmly atop the leaderboard, but with three races still to sail and a throw-out looming after five, the Bacardi Cup remains unclaimed.
“The game is still pretty open,” said Scheidt.
Top 5 Overall After Race Three
1. Paul Cayard/Frithjof Kleen (USA) – 3 points
2. Robert Scheidt/Austin Sperry (BRA) – 10 points
3. Mateusz Kusznierewicz/Bruno Prada (POL) – 13 points
4. Eric Doyle/Payson Infelise (USA) – 16 points
5. Diego Negri/Sergio Lambertenghi (ITA) – 17 points
Welcome back, VX One fleet!
Coconut Grove Comes Alive as the Invitational Fleets Arrive
Beginning Thursday, the regatta grows.
The Bacardi Invitational Regatta invites the J/70, Melges 24, VX One and Snipe fleets onto Biscayne Bay, adding another 111 boats to the week and turning Miami into one of the largest gatherings of high level one-design racing in the world.
For many sailors, the draw is the combination of elite competition and the community around it.
Stars running down Biscayne Bay against the Miami skyline
“We really love sailing here in Miami,” said many-time world champion Victor Diaz de Leon. “A lot of legends of the sport are here at Bacardi. You see them around the club, you talk with them, you learn from them. It makes you want to be part of it.”
Bacardi party in the Shake-A-Leg hangar in Coconut Grove
Ashore, the Miami neighborhood of Coconut Grove provides the backdrop that has long defined Bacardi Cup Invitational Week.
“My parents are from Coconut Grove, so coming back here is always special,” said four-time consecutive VX One Bacardi Champion Chris Alexander. “After racing, we de-rig the boat, grab our skateboards, and cruise over to the Bacardi bar. That’s the Grove.”
World-class racing remains the centerpiece. The atmosphere surrounding this week is what makes Bacardi Cup Invitational Week unlike any other in sailing.
The first races of Bacardi Invitational Regatta are scheduled for 11:00 a.m. Thursday.
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.
A toast to champions
There’s nothing quite like a Star
2nd Place: Robert Scheidt/Austin Sperry (BRA)
3rd Place: Mateusz Kusznierewicz/Bruno Prada (POL)
4th Place: Eric Doyle/Payson Infelise (USA)
Fifth Place: Diego Negri/Sergio Lambertenghi (ITA)
Text Credits: Hannah Lee Noll & Ana Stewart
Photo Credits: Hannah Lee Noll & Anna Suslova
Follow the Bacardi Cup and Bacardi Invitational Regatta
Results: bacardiregattas.sailti.com
Photos: facebook.com/BacardiCupInvitational/photos_albums
Facebook: facebook.com/BacardiCupInvitational
Instagram: instagram.com/bacardi_regatta
About BACARDÍ
Bacardi U.S.A. Inc. is the U.S. import and distribution arm of family-owned Bacardi Limited, the world’s largest privately held spirits company. Its portfolio includes some of the most recognized spirits brands in the United States, such as BACARDÍ® rum, PATRÓN® tequila, GREY GOOSE® vodka, DEWAR’S® Blended Scotch Whisky, BOMBAY SAPPHIRE® gin, CAZADORES® tequila, and MARTINI vermouth and sparkling wines. Founded more than 158 years ago in Santiago de Cuba, Bacardi Limited employs over 7,000 people, operates more than 20 production facilities in 11 countries, and distributes its brands in more than 170 countries worldwide. Enjoy Responsibly. For more information, visit www.bacardilimited.com
About North Sails
North Sails, founded in 1957 by aerospace engineer and pioneering sailmaker Lowell North, is a global leader in sailmaking, action sports, and apparel. Built on a legacy of innovation, North Sails continues to push performance and redefine what is possible in sailing. As a trusted partner for elite competition, North Sails is the preferred sailmaker for the America’s Cup, the Olympics, and top Grand Prix, ocean racing, and superyacht programs. With an unmatched record of one-design, national, world, and Olympic class victories, North Sails supports sailors at every level—from championship racing to unforgettable days on the water with family and friends. For more information, visit www.northsails.com
About Centennial Bank:
Centennial Bank is a customer focused bank that provides a broad range of commercial and retail banking and related financial services to businesses, investors, individuals and municipalities. Centennial Bank has locations in Arkansas, Florida, South Alabama, Texas and New York. We pride ourselves on excellent customer service, convenience to our account holders and taking care of the communities in which we operate. For more information, visit www.my100bank.com
About Shore Premier Finance:
Shore Premier Finance provides a personalized, streamlined lending experience to help customers begin enjoying their boat or RV sooner. Our specialized team offers competitive financing and manages every step—from coordinating with dealers or brokers to handling documentation. We finance new and used boats, charter programs, USCG and BVI registries, powerboats, sailboats, catamarans, specialty vessels, and RVs. Shore Premier Finance is dedicated to ensuring a smooth, efficient process from application through closing. For more information, visit www.shorepremierfinance.com
About Palm Beach Motor Yachts:
Founded in 1995 by ocean-racing champion and yacht builder Mark Richards, Palm Beach Motor Yachts was born from a passion for precision, performance, and timeless design. Drawing directly from its racing heritage, each yacht blends elegant lines with advanced composite construction, meticulous craftsmanship, and the company’s proprietary V-Warp® Technology—delivering exceptional efficiency, balance, stability, and reduced fuel consumption and emissions. Today, Palm Beach Motor Yachts offers a highly customizable portfolio across its Classic, GT, and GT RS series, all designed and built at its state-of-the-art facility and supported by global sales and service offices. For more information, visit www.palmbeachmotoryachts.com. Complementing this is Palm Beach XI, a strategic high-performance racing program that serves as a proving ground for innovation, where lessons learned on the racecourse directly inform and enhance the motor yacht range For more information, visit www.palmbeachxi.com
About Regatta Brokerage – the Brian Kamilar Team:
Based in South Florida, Regatta Brokerage specializes in both luxury real estate and yacht brokerage, offering trusted guidance backed by years of experience in the market. Whether you’re looking for a new home, a waterfront property, or your next boat, their team brings professionalism, local expertise, and a true passion for the sailing community. Please contact contact The Brian Kamilar Team at www.regattabrokerage.com
About Shake-A-Leg Miami:
Founded in 1990, Shake-A-Leg Miami is a nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering children and adults of all abilities through inclusive sailing and watersports programs. Located on Biscayne Bay in Coconut Grove, it is a national leader in adaptive sailing, providing access to the water for individuals with physical, developmental, and economic challenges. Through sailing instruction, competitive racing, marine education, and community events, Shake-A-Leg builds confidence, independence, and teamwork in a supportive environment. Its mission is simple: make the water accessible to everyone. For more information, visit www.shakealegmiami.org
About Tuuci:
Founded in 1998 by Dougan Clarke, Tuuci® was born from Miami’s seaside culture and Clarke’s background as a marine outfitter for high performance yachts. With a focus on innovation, durability, and design, Tuuci applies marine-grade engineering to create distinctive shade architecture and luxury outdoor furnishings. Known for award-winning umbrellas and shelter structures, the brand is trusted by leading commercial, hospitality, marine, and residential design professionals worldwide. Headquartered in Miami, with additional manufacturing in Europe and Asia, Tuuci’s mission is to inspire outdoor living through enduring performance, refined design, and exceptional service. For more information, visit www.tuuci.com.