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Wednesday, October 14, 2026
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Scandinavian Duo Set the Pace in Bermuda Gold Cup
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Denmark’s Jeppe Borch and Sweden’s Oscar Engström mastered unpredictable conditions to share the overnight lead after a fiercely contested opening day at the 2026 Bermuda Gold Cup.
The Scandinavian pair claimed five wins from six matches to emerge as early frontrunners at the penultimate stage of the World Match Racing Tour (WMRT), navigating a brand-new fleet of Fareast 28R keelboats.
The introduction of the lightweight Fareast 28R fleet—replacing the iconic International One Design (IOD) sloops and modified with symmetric spinnakers—injected immediate drama into Hamilton Harbour.
"The conditions were tricky and the wind shifts were all over the place, so it was anyone’s game," said Borch, who marked his return to the island after a two-year absence through injury. "We might as well roll some dice here on shore, but it is great to be sailing. I don’t think any of the teams have yet perfected the new boats with the symmetric set-ups, so we can all improve this week."
Debut-making Frenchman Aurélien Pierroz also impressed, notching four wins from six starts, though his day included the regatta's first flashpoint against American rival Chris Poole.
Approaching the finish carrying a penalty, Pierroz executed his turn under intense pressure from Poole. A contested umpire call followed, with Poole arguing the turn remained incomplete when the head of the French spinnaker rose above the gooseneck. The decision stood in Pierroz’s favour, leaving Poole to settle for a 3-3 return on the day.
Meanwhile, five-time champion Johnie Berntsson faced an uncharacteristic early wobble in his quest for an unprecedented fourth straight title. The Swedish veteran dropped his first three matches before mounting a resilient fightback, reeling off consecutive wins over Anna Östling, Tom Picot, and Martina Carlsson to level his record at 3-3.
With eight flights and 32 matches remaining in the round-robin stage, the race for the top four quarter-final berths remains wide open ahead of Thursday's racing.
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Wednesday, October 14, 2026
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Rising talent Hocking Targets Global Stage with Bermuda
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Bermuda’s SSL Gold Cup campaign has received a timely injection of youthful firepower with the arrival of Trystan Hocking, one of the island's most promising helmsmen.
The emerging sailor, recently named among the Top 10 SSL skipper rankings, joins SSL Team Bermuda as they ramp up preparations to take on the world’s elite in Rio de Janeiro.
Hocking’s trajectory on the water began early. First stepping into a boat at the age of eight, he was competing internationally by 13, cutting his teeth against world-class opposition at the Optimist World Championships.
"I’m proud to represent home and be part of such a strong sailing community," said Hocking, reflecting on his rapid rise through Bermuda’s competitive sailing ranks.
Now, the focus turns south to Brazil, where Bermuda’s crew will test themselves against national teams from across the globe in identical one-design monohulls. For Hocking, the prospect of racing in Brazilian waters alongside his compatriots is the realisation of a long-held ambition: "The racing, the competition, and experiencing Rio alongside the team is what it’s all about."
While the team boasts a blend of seasoned pedigree and emerging talent like Hocking, Bermuda's management is making a decisive push to secure top-tier coaching support ahead of the regatta. In a format where tactical execution and crew cohesion are paramount, fine margins often separate triumph from early elimination.
"Having a coach would give us another perspective on the racing and help us make better decisions as a team," Hocking explained, underlining the tactical value a dedicated mentor brings to an offshore campaign.
With the countdown to Rio well under way, Team Bermuda continues to rally support through a public fundraising push to ensure a full coaching staff can join them on the water, looking to give the island outfit every competitive edge when racing begins.
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Tuesday, October 13, 2026
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Comet Champion Curtis set for SSL Gold Cup Debut in Rio
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Bermudian sailor Max Curtis will make his international debut on the global stage after being named to the SSL Team Bermuda squad for the upcoming SSL Gold Cup in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Curtis steps into the prestigious one-design regatta—often referred to as the 'World Cup of Sailing'—on the back of an impressive record in domestic and regional racing.
His journey on the water began at the age of 11 after being introduced to the sport by his stepfather. Starting out in the grassroots Sunfish dinghy, Curtis developed an appetite for racing that eventually carried him to the top of the island's traditional Comet fleet.
He etched his name into local sailing folklore in 2020 by capturing the grueling Bermuda Long Distance Comet Race, before testing himself internationally with a top-four finish at the 2024 International Comet Regatta.
Stepping up to the high-performance SSL47 yacht represents a significant gear change, but Curtis sees the South American assignment as a crucial stepping stone.
"It’s an honour," Curtis said. "It gives me the opportunity to compete against talented sailors, gain valuable experience and proudly represent our island and its sailing community."
Beyond mastering the larger boat, the regatta presents the challenge of lining up against Olympic medallists and world champions in Rio's testing waters.
Curtis believes collective preparation and technical insight will be key to bridging the gap.
"Focused training and expert guidance can help the team strengthen communication, refine racing techniques and build the confidence to compete with the best," he noted, adding that the knowledge acquired in Brazil will provide lasting benefits to Bermuda's broader sailing community.
As the squad ramps up preparations for the regatta, Team Bermuda is currently pushing to secure vital funding for a dedicated coach to accompany the sailors to Rio.
With races decided by fractions of a second in identical boats, the team views expert tactical oversight on the water as an essential asset in their pursuit of a knockout-stage run.
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Monday, October 12, 2026
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Vieira and Rodrigues in Championships Action
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Bermuda sailors Jordan Vieira and PJ Rodrigues featured prominently as Eckerd College battled testing conditions to conclude the Open Atlantic Coast Championships Round 1A.
Rain and gusty easterly breezes framed a challenging morning on the water, allowing race officials to complete the final four races before midday.
Eckerd finished 11th overall in the team standings with 259 points, missing out on qualification for the Atlantic Coast Championship Finals in a fiercely contested regatta.
Stanford lived up to their billing by taking the Round 1A crown, while the US Coast Guard Academy Bears mounted a storming charge—posting top-three finishes in seven of their final eight races—to secure the last remaining berth.
In Division A, Vieira teamed up with crew William Alvarado, tallying 144 points to place 12th in a competitive fleet.
Rodrigues enjoyed a sharper outing in Division B alongside crew Peyton Seidle. The pair produced a consistent series to finish 10th on 115 points, helping anchor Eckerd's combined team score against collegiate sailing's elite.
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Monday, October 12, 2026
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Bermuda's Smith Primed for Second SSL Gold Cup Campaign
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Bermudian sailor Jade Smith is set to return to the international stage after being confirmed for his second appearance at the prestigious SSL Gold Cup.
At 22, Smith will bring vital campaign experience to the island's crew as they prepare to take on the world's finest sailing nations in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
A passionate waterman from an early age, Smith transitioned from multiple watersports into competitive sailing, where he now splits his time between high-level racing and coaching the next generation of sailors on the water.
His initial taste of the regatta—often dubbed the 'World Cup of Sailing'—remains a career highlight, not least the demanding shift to handling the one-design SSL47 yachts used for the event.
"It’s a high achievement representing Bermuda for any sport," Smith said. "This means I get a chance to show and promote Bermudian talent on a global stage."
Looking ahead to the conditions and atmosphere awaiting the team in Brazil, Smith's target remains straightforward: "Great racing and good vibes."
As preparations intensify, Bermuda's squad is focusing heavily on fine margins, with Smith emphasizing the tactical value of high-level coaching to unlock the boat's full potential.
"Everyone has room to improve," he explained, noting that dedicated technical oversight to spot weaknesses and implement adjustments will be crucial against world-class opposition.
The Bermuda team is currently conducting a funding drive to ensure a dedicated coach can travel with the squad to Rio, providing the tactical edge and cohesion required to push for the podium.
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