The 2025 TUUCI Orange Bowl International Youth Regatta drew to a close on Biscayne Bay, with Bermuda’s young sailors delivering a series of resilient performances following a week defined by tactical patience and fluctuating winds.
The story of the final day belonged to Thomas McBain in the 225-boat Optimist fleet. Entering the final session in 73rd place, McBain produced a stunning climb up the standings to finish 37th overall. His late-regatta surge was sparked by remarkable back-to-back fourth-place finishes in races five and six, ending the competition as the top Bermudian with 113 net points.
Teammate Rex Henagulph also secured a respectable top-100 finish, claiming 72nd place overall. Henagulph saved his best for the penultimate race, where a superb ninth-place finish helped him conclude the week with 171 net points. They were followed by Miguel Leite in 107th and Aaron Riker in 116th, with Leite notably picking up an 18th-place finish earlier in the series.
The Bermudian contingent showed depth across the middle of the pack, as Calypso Coulter finished 124th—highlighted by a brilliant 10th place in race seven—while Ishmael Dill took 135th after a strong 15th-place finish in the final race of the regatta. Further down the standings, the fleet was rounded out by Benjamin De Couto (155th), Alfie Jansma (173rd), James De Couto (191st), Leo De Couto (195th), Hudson Pitcher (214th), and Ethan Adelsberg (222nd). In the Green Fleet, Thatcher Coulter completed a marathon 10-race series to finish 76th, with a personal best of 33rd in his opening outing.
In the high-performance ILCA divisions, Miguel Power remained a standout performer. Competing in the ILCA6 fleet, Power navigated eight races to finish a commendable 16th overall. His regatta was anchored by an exceptional second-place finish in the very first race, proving he could compete with the elite of the international fleet. In the ILCA4 division, Sean Pedro finished 23rd overall after seven races, maintaining the consistency that saw him open the regatta with a strong 17th-place showing.
As the sailors head home, the experience on the tricky waters of Miami provides a vital stepping stone for the 2026 season.
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