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Monday, January 26, 2026
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Bennett and Round deadlocked at top of RS21 Winter Series
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The 2026 RS21 Inter Club Winter Series launched into action this weekend as the Royal Hamilton Amateur Dinghy Club played host to a fiercely competitive opening day of racing. Five races were contested in the waters of Hamilton Harbour, with the leading pack already inseparable as the low-point scoring system and the crucial race discard began to shape the leaderboard.
Jeff Bennett emerged as the early pacesetter for the host club, though he was forced to fight for every inch of water. Bennett started the day with a discardable third-place finish but quickly found his rhythm to record a remarkably consistent scorecard of two-one-two-one. That late surge secured him a net total of six points, a tally that reflects both his technical precision and his ability to read the notoriously shifty harbour winds.
However, Bennett does not hold the lead alone. Clubmate Sebastian Round produced an equally impressive display of tactical sailing to match the six-point total. Round enjoyed a dream start to the series, claiming back-to-back victories in the opening two races. Despite a slight stumble in the fourth race where he finished third, his strong finishes in the third and fifth races ensured he remains on level terms with Bennett in what is shaping up to be a thrilling intra-club rivalry.
Leading the charge for the visiting clubs is Miguel Power of Sandys Boat Club. Power proved that he will be a significant threat as the series progresses, highlighted by a superb victory in the fourth race of the day. While a fourth-place finish in the second race had to be discarded, his net score of nine points keeps him well within striking distance of the leaders and firmly in third place overall.
Further down the rankings, Pablo Sanguinetti sits in fourth for the Royal Hamilton Amateur Dinghy Club with fifteen net points. Sanguinetti’s afternoon was hampered by a non-start in the third race, but he showed resilience to bounce back with consistent fourth-place finishes in the final two contests. Meanwhile, the Bermuda Comet Class, represented by Maxwell Curtis, did not compete on the opening day and sits at the foot of the table with twenty-eight points. With four more race days scheduled throughout February and March, the fleet now looks ahead to next Sunday to see if anyone can break the deadlock at the top.
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Saturday, January 24, 2026
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Smith Crowned Dalhousie University Skipper of the Year
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Ahzai Smith has capped a remarkable collegiate season by being named the Dalhousie University Skipper of the Year. The Bermudian international, who has become a linchpin for the Tigers' sailing programme, received the prestigious honour following a series of dominant performances on the Canadian intercollegiate circuit.
The award serves as a testament to Smith’s consistency and tactical brilliance throughout the 2025-26 campaign. Alongside fellow Bermudian Nicole Stovell, Smith was instrumental in guiding Dalhousie to the summit of Canadian university sailing, helping the team secure high-profile victories at both the Quebec Regional Championships and the CICSA Fleet Race Nationals.
Smith’s season was defined by his ability to perform under pressure. At the Quebec Regionals in Montreal, he navigated a condensed and high-stakes schedule to help clinch first place after weather delays had threatened to derail the event. He followed that success with an equally impressive showing in Halifax at the Fleet Race Nationals, where his boat handling and strategic execution in a competitive field ensured Dalhousie walked away with the national title.
A product of the America’s Cup Endeavour Programme, Smith has long been identified as one of Bermuda’s most promising nautical talents. From winning O'pen BIC titles in New Zealand as a junior to becoming a standout figure in Nova Scotia, his progression into the senior university ranks has been seamless.
The Skipper of the Year accolade highlights not only Smith’s individual skill but also the growing influence of Bermudian sailors within the Dalhousie programme. As the Tigers celebrate a season of significant silverware, Smith’s leadership on the water has established him as one of the most formidable competitors in the Atlantic conference.
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Friday, January 09, 2026
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Great Sound Showdown Bermuda Preparing for SailGP 2026
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The countdown to SailGP’s 2026 campaign has officially shifted up a gear, and if CEO Russell Coutts is right, fans are in for a year where nothing comes easy and no podium place is guaranteed.
As the league expands to a record 13-team fleet, the high-octane championship is set to return to the turquoise waters of the Great Sound for the Apex Group Bermuda Sail Grand Prix on May 9th - 10th, 2026.
The return to Bermuda marks a significant milestone in what Coutts describes as the league's "most fiercely contested era." After a fifth season that saw eight different teams claim event titles, the myth of a dominant "Big Three" has been firmly dismantled.
“With eight different teams winning events last season, it’s already extremely competitive,” Coutts said. “With the Artemis SailGP Team joining the fray, I’d expect them to be fighting for podiums straight away given the talent they’ve assembled.”
Bermuda has long been a "kingmaker" on the SailGP calendar, known for producing some of the most dramatic moments in the sport’s short history.
2024: The Spanish Sting: In the most recent visit, Diego Botín’s Spain SailGP Team stunned the heavyweights, executing a late dive to leeward in the final to snatch victory from Australia and New Zealand. It was the catalyst that eventually propelled Spain to their first-ever Season Championship.
2021: Ainslie’s Perfect Opener: Sir Ben Ainslie and Emirates Great Britain famously dominated the 2021 Bermuda opener, winning a winner-takes-all final by just four seconds over Tom Slingsby’s Australia.
The Practice Perils: The Great Sound is also remembered for its unpredictability; in 2024, the United States team was forced to withdraw before racing even began after a dramatic practice capsize caused significant wing damage.
Bermuda’s role as a host is more than just sporting; the 2024 event generated a reportedly staggering $14.1 million in total economic impact for the island and reached a global broadcast audience of over 13 million.
For the 2026 season, the Bermuda event will be the fourth stop in a global tour that begins in Australia and Rio de Janeiro. With the fleet reaching speeds nearing 100 km/h against the backdrop of the iconic Great Sound, the May fixture is expected to be a pivotal "moving day" for the Season 6 standings.
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Thursday, January 08, 2026
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Bermuda’s Patton Finds Rhythm in Hobart
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 Patton in Hobart Action IslandStats.com  The River Derwent provided a punishing test for the 191-strong fleet this week as the 2026 ILCA Oceania & Australian Open & Youth Championship concluded in Hobart.
While double Olympic gold medalist Matt Wearn secured his seventh Australian title, Bermuda’s Olympic hopeful Campbell Patton proved he can mix it with the world’s elite.
Patton, finished 11th overall in a stacked 40-boat ILCA 7 fleet, navigating six days of "short, sharp waves" and shifting tides that saw many veteran sailors struggle for consistency.
Training out of Sydney, Patton finished with 86 net points across the 12-race series. His performance was defined by remarkable consistency in the top tier of the field:
Top 10 Finishes: Patton placed 10th or better in eight of the 12 races.
Standout Moment: His championship highlight came in Race 5, where he crossed the line in 2nd place, splitting the dominant Australian Sailing Team contingent.
Gritty Finale: Despite the physical toll of the six-day regatta, Patton remained in the hunt for a top-ten spot until the final day, eventually finishing just outside the single digits.
Patton’s performance in Hobart continues a strong run of form following his recent victory at the NSW & ACT State Championships, signaling his intent as he ramps up his international World Cup schedule later this year.
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Tuesday, December 30, 2025
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McBain Surges Up Leaderboard as Orange Bowl Concludes
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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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