The 2025 TUUCI Orange Bowl International Youth Regatta has commenced in uncharacteristically quiet fashion, with a persistent lack of wind on Biscayne Bay resulting in a frustrating standoff for the international fleet.
While 15 of Bermuda’s most promising young sailors have descended upon the Coral Reef Yacht Club for the prestigious year-end event, the testing conditions meant only a fraction of the contingent saw competitive action on the opening day.
In the high-performance ILCA Divisions, Miguel Power made an immediate statement despite the light air. Competing in the physically demanding ILCA 6 fleet, Power navigated the tactical complexities of the bay to sit in third place overall after the opening exchanges, finishing with just two points.
Fellow ILCA sailor Sean Pedro also found himself in the thick of the action in the ILCA 4 fleet. Following a single completed race in the burgeoning division, Pedro occupies 17th position with a score of 17 points.
The Developmental Green Fleet provided the only other avenue for Bermudian participation as the race committee grappled with the elements. Thatcher Coulter, the island's sole representative in the division designed for less seasoned competitors, endured a marathon session consisting of three races.
Coulter currently sits in 54th place overall with a total of 159 points, though his campaign was highlighted by a resilient 34th-place finish in the day's opening race.
With better breeze forecast for the coming days, the remaining 12 Bermudian Optimist sailors wait in the wings, eager to begin their own tactical battles against hundreds of world-class rivals.
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