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Thursday, March 19, 2026
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Rodrigues Jr. & Vieira Lead Tritons to 2nd-Place in Charleston
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Bermudian sailors Paul Rodrigues Jr. and Jordan Vieira were back in action for Eckerd College this weekend as the Tritons secured a superb second-place finish at the South Atlantic Intercollegiate Sailing Association Top Six Fleet Race in Charleston.
Following the earlier fleet racing stages, the action shifted to team racing in FJs, where the fleet had to contend with outgoing tides and shifting winds between 5 and 7 knots. The Tritons’ elite lineup saw Jordan Vieira team up with Tia Soultanakis, while Paul Rodrigues Jr. partnered with Avery Guck, and Peter Miller sailed alongside Peyton Elizabeth Seidle.
Eckerd opened the round-robin portion of the regatta in clinical form, dispatching Miami, North Carolina State, Jacksonville, and Florida State in quick succession. The Tritons’ only blemish during the initial round-robin stage came against the host school, the College of Charleston, resulting in a strong 5–1 record and a second-place standing heading into the critical top-four round.
In the final championship round, Eckerd maintained their composure to defeat both Jacksonville and Miami, before once again falling to a dominant College of Charleston side. The Tritons concluded the high-stakes event with a highly impressive 6–2 overall record to secure the runner-up spot. The result marks another significant milestone for the Bermudian pair as they continue to establish themselves as key figures in the Eckerd College sailing programme.
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Wednesday, March 18, 2026
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Rodrigues Jr. & Vieira Help Eckerd Secure Fourth
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Sailors Paul Rodrigues Jr. and Jordan Vieira played pivotal roles for Eckerd College as the Tritons secured a solid fourth-place finish at the SAISA Top Six Fleet Race in Charleston.
Competing in a high-stakes environment featuring 18 boats across three divisions, the Eckerd squad navigated a grueling opening day on the South Carolina waters. The regatta began in challenging conditions, with sailors contending with outgoing tides and moderate winds of 6 to 8 knots. Paul Rodrigues Jr., alongside Avery Guck, spearheaded the Tritons' efforts in the A Division, while Jordan Vieira teamed up with Tia Soultanakis to tackle the B Division.
The morning session was defined by consistency, as the A Division notched seven top-10 finishes and the B Division added a further six to the team's tally. However, a midday lull in conditions forced a tactical shift. Following a lunch break, the breeze lightened significantly to 3 to 5 knots, coinciding with an incoming tide that tested the fleet's technical precision.
As the competition transitioned from 420s to FJs for the final three sets, Eckerd found themselves sitting in third place overall at the midpoint. Despite the shifting momentum, the Tritons remained composed to conclude the day in fourth position out of the six elite teams, finishing with a total of 274 points.
On an individual level, Rodrigues Jr. delivered a disciplined performance to place eighth in the A Division with 72 points. Vieira followed closely in the B Division, securing 10th place with 90 points, while the C Division pairing of Peter Miller and Peyton Elizabeth Seidle finished 13th with 112 points. The result provides a strong foundation for the Florida-based program as they continue their spring campaign against the top tier of the South Atlantic Intercollegiate Sailing Association.
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Tuesday, March 17, 2026
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Ebbin & Tulane Secure Podium Finish at St. Mary’s Open
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Bermudian sailor Christian Ebbin and his Tulane University teammates delivered a commanding performance on the Potomac River this weekend, securing third place at the highly competitive St. Mary's Open Team Race.
In a field featuring 10 of the premier collegiate programs in the United States, the Green Wave finished the regatta with an impressive 7–2 record. The result underscores Tulane’s growing reputation as a powerhouse in the coed team racing circuit as they navigate a grueling spring schedule.
Ebbin, serving as one of the squad's key skippers alongside Kelly Holthus and Hamilton Barclay, demonstrated exceptional tactical awareness in the shifting conditions off the St. Mary’s College of Maryland waterfront.
The trio of skippers, supported by the clinical crew work of Jonah Wozniak, Sabrina Anderson, and Taylor Bartell, proved too much for several heavyweight opponents. Tulane’s path to the podium was marked by a string of significant victories over traditional sailing powers, including the College of Charleston, Cornell, and the United States Naval Academy.
The Green Wave also secured vital wins against host school St. Mary's College, as well as Christopher Newport, Rhode Island, and George Washington. The 7–2 scoreline reflects a level of consistency that has become the hallmark of the New Orleans-based program this season.
For Ebbin, who has made a seamless transition into the elite tier of American collegiate sailing, the podium finish provides significant momentum heading into the business end of the Atlantic Coast season. With only two losses on their card for the weekend, Tulane has firmly established itself as a team to watch as the countdown to the national championship selections begins.
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Monday, March 16, 2026
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McBain Triumphs in Bermuda Selection Trials
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The pristine waters of Bermuda provided a dramatic theatre for the next generation of sailing talent this week as the Bermuda Optimist Dinghy Association concluded its high-stakes selection trials.
Over four grueling days and twelve intense races, the island’s elite young sailors battled shifting winds and high-pressure tactical scenarios to secure their spots for the upcoming World, European, and South American Championships.
The regatta was defined by its relentless consistency and fluctuating leaderboards, but it was Thomas McBain who ultimately rose to the occasion to be crowned the overall champion. McBain demonstrated exceptional poise across the twelve-race series, navigating the technical challenges of the course to finish at the summit of the podium.
He was pushed to the limit by Rex Henagulph, who secured a well-deserved second place after a string of impressive finishes in the final sessions. Heath Meyers rounded out the top three, claiming the bronze position after a resilient display of mid-fleet management and tactical grit.
Beyond the battle for the overall title, the trials highlighted the depth of talent currently rising through the Bermudian ranks. Elaine Jones delivered a standout performance to be named the Top Female sailor, showcasing the clinical boat handling that has seen her become a consistent threat at the front of the fleet.
In the highly competitive Mid-Fleet division, Mason Portelli emerged victorious to claim the top honours. As the final whistles blew and the champions were crowned on the water, the focus now shifts to the international stage, where this newly formed elite squad will look to carry Bermuda's proud sailing legacy across three continents.
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Sunday, March 15, 2026
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Weather Halts Kempe in Palma in Mallorca Regatta
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Strong winds gusting across Palma Bay forced the cancellation of the final day of the Mallorca Sailing Center Regatta, leaving the overnight standings to decide the silverware in a high-caliber Olympic-class field.
The decision by race officials means the results from a grueling opening day stand as the final classification. For Bermuda’s Sebastian Kempe, the newly crowned Male Athlete of the Year and Islandstats.com Male Athlete of the Year, it marks a solid opening to his European season, finishing 21st overall in a competitive 68-boat ILCA7 fleet.
In a regatta heavily impacted by the elements, only four races were possible before the weather turned. Despite the limited opportunities to climb the leaderboard, Kempe demonstrated the elite pace that has seen him rise through the international ranks.
The 20-year-old Bermudian secured two top-ten finishes from the four races contested. He signaled his intent early with an 8th-place finish in the opening race, before delivering a clinical display in the fourth race to cross the line in 6th. Kempe concluded the event with 55 net points, proving he can consistently mix it with the frontrunners in the Bay of Palma.
The regatta also saw a standout performance from a familiar face to the Bermuda sailing community. Fiachra McDonnell, a former sailor with both the Royal Bermuda Yacht Club and the Royal Hamilton Amateur Dinghy Club, showcased exceptional consistency to claim 2nd place overall.
McDonnell finished the regatta with 22 net points, trailing only the winner in a display of tactical brilliance. For Kempe, the focus now shifts to the upcoming Trofeo Princesa Sofia, where he will look to build on this momentum as the Olympic-class circuit moves into high gear
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