St. George’s Harbor Braced for Opening Fitted Dinghy Season
IslandStats.com
The historic waters of St. George’s Harbor will be transformed into a vibrant canvas of white canvas and frantic tactical racing this Sunday, as the highly anticipated 2026 Bermuda Fitted Dinghy race season officially gets underway.
As one of the island's most fiercely contested and deeply rooted maritime traditions, the opening day of the season always draws passionate crowds. Spectators will line the shores and pack onto charter boats to watch the unique, heavily canvased wooden craft test the physical limits of their crews.
The high-stakes opening event of the campaign is being proudly hosted by the St. George’s Dinghy & Sports Club, with the home team eager to set a dominant tone on their familiar eastern waters.
The fleet faces a demanding and packed itinerary on opening day, with three individual races scheduled to put crew endurance and boat handling to an immediate test.
The action on the water begins promptly at 12 noon with the staging of the historic Heritage Trophy Race, where teams will look to shake off any off-season rust and claim the very first silverware of 2026.
There will be little time for tactical reflection or structural adjustments, as the fleet will re-gather at 1:30 PM for the start of the high-octane Anniversary Cup race.
The day's grueling schedule will reach its grand finale at 3:00 PM, concluding with the prestigious Leon D. Fox Cup race. With the handicap and points system heavily punishing any early-season mishaps, every tack, hoist, and bailing shift will be critical as the teams look to launch an immediate assault on the overall season leaderboard.
Wednesday, May 20, 2026
Air Force Soars to Victory Again in Hamilton Harbor Thriller
IslandStats.com
On a clear and calm Wednesday evening, the latest round of the highly competitive Wednesday night sailing series took to the waters of Hamilton Harbor. Conditions just off the Hamilton Princess dock were idyllic, offering a gentle breeze and flat waters that set the stage for a masterclass in tactical navigation and precision racing.
There was early drama at the front of the fleet as Nasty Medicine put on a roaring display of pure speed. They were the very first boat to physically cross the finish line, clocking an impressive elapsed time of 1:05:05.
However, the brutal reality of the handicap system soon crushed their celebrations. Once the math was settled, a corrected time of 1:11:23 saw Nasty Medicine plummet all the way down to a sobering 13th place on the night, proving that cross the line first doesn't always guarantee silverware.
Instead, it was the clinical crew of Air Force who stole the headlines yet again. Showcasing the flawless consistency that has made them the boat to beat this series, they navigated the harbor beautifully to stop the clock with a winning corrected time of 1:08:22.
It was far from comfortable, however, as they were pushed all the way by a relentless chasing pack. Air Force just managed to edge out Menace, who had to settle for a fighting second place after registering a corrected time of 1:08:58.
The podium was completed by Tribune, who crossed the digital line a mere eight seconds later with a corrected time of 1:09:06 to secure third.
Just outside the podium places, Scatteraction claimed a commendable fourth place in 1:09:22, while Yabsta rounded out the top five on the night after clocking a corrected time of 1:10:12. With the margins thinning at the top of the leaderboard, the next round promises even more high-stakes drama under the setting Bermuda sun.
The prestigious College Open Eastern National Semifinals have drawn to a dramatic close, with host South Florida delivering a masterclass in high-stakes sailing. Crews from across the region pushed their 420 fleets to the absolute limit, battling relentless coastal winds and shifting currents for a coveted spot in the upcoming national finals.
When the final tallies were settled, a spectacular finish from Christian Ebbin helped guide Tulane University to a podium finish, while PJ Rodrigues and Jordan Vieira endured a grueling regatta to place 16th with Eckerd College.
It was a regatta defined by tactical maturity and exceptional consistency for Christian Ebbin and the Tulane University team. Throughout the event, Tulane remained firmly in the upper echelons of the standings, accumulating just 90 points to secure a brilliant third-place finish overall.
Ebbin was the undisputed catalyst for that podium charge. Competing in a relentless B Division, he navigated crowded start lines and heavy traffic with immense composure.
His crowning moment came in the final race of the regatta. Under intense pressure, Ebbin produced a flawless tactical drive to cross the line first, sealing a magnificent race win. That grand finale locked his boat into eighth place in the B Division with 42 points, providing the crucial mathematical edge Tulane needed to book their ticket to the national finals.
Further down the leaderboard, it proved to be an uphill struggle for the Eckerd College contingent. Facing the elite of collegiate sailing, the duo of Rodrigues and Vieira fought hard but ultimately concluded their campaign in 16th place overall.
Rodrigues took on the daunting challenge of spearheading Eckerd's A Division boat. It proved to be a punishing shift on the water, with Rodrigues fighting through a dense fleet to finish 16th in his division on 89 points.
On the adjacent course, teammate Vieira commanded the Eckerd 'B' boat campaign. Finding slightly cleaner air in the early exchanges, Vieira put together a battling performance to secure 16th place in the B Division with 74 points.
While Eckerd will look to regroup and unlock more pace from their 420 fleet in the off-season, Ebbin and Tulane fly home with their heads held high and their eyes firmly fixed on the National Championship.
Wednesday, May 20, 2026
SailGP to Return to Bermuda May 2027
IslandStats.com
SailGP, the world’s most exciting racing on water, will return to Bermuda next year with the Apex Group Bermuda Sail Grand Prix officially confirmed for May 1-2, 2027 as part of the Rolex SailGP Championship’s most ambitious global season calendar to date. Returning to the crystal-clear waters of the Great Sound, Bermuda will once again host the championship’s fleet of high-speed F50 catamarans as one of four North American events on the 2027 calendar.
The announcement follows a hugely successful 2026 event earlier this month, which welcomed a sold-out crowd of nearly 6,000 spectators across race weekend at Morgan’s Point. The event once again shined a global spotlight on Bermuda’s capabilities, natural beauty and reputation as one of the world’s premier sailing destinations.
Known for its turquoise waters, reliable breeze and rich sailing heritage, Bermuda has become one of SailGP’s standout global venues since first hosting the championship in the first season. The island’s natural arena provides fans with unparalleled close-to-shore viewing as teams race at speeds exceeding 100 km/h (60 mph).
SailGP Chief Operating Officer Julien di Biase said: “Bermuda has played an important role in SailGP’s story from the very beginning, and we’re thrilled to return in 2027 with the Apex Group Bermuda Sail Grand Prix. The Great Sound consistently delivers world-class racing conditions, while the island itself provides an incredible experience for teams, partners and fans alike. The energy from this year’s sold-out crowd showed exactly why Bermuda is affirming itself as one of the most iconic stops on our global calendar.”
Erin Wright, COO, Acting CEO, Bermuda Tourism Authority, said: “Bermuda’s inclusion on the SailGP Championship calendar for 2027 reflects the longstanding collaboration that helped deliver an incredibly successful event this past month, generating exceptional global visibility for the island and welcoming visitors and sailing fans from around the world to experience the heart-racing action on Bermuda’s waters. As a destination with a proud maritime heritage and world-class racing conditions, SailGP continues to showcase Bermuda at its very best while reinforcing our position as a premier international sailing destination.”
The Apex Group Bermuda Sail Grand Prix will form part of SailGP’s expanded 13-event global championship season, which spans Asia, Australia, Europe, North America, South America and the Middle East. Bermuda will feature prominently within the North American leg of the championship alongside events in San Francisco, Halifax and New York.
Fans in 2027 can once again expect fast, physical and unpredictable racing, with identical F50 foiling catamarans ensuring tight competition from start to finish. Spectators will enjoy front-row waterfront viewing, live commentary, food and beverage offerings, premium hospitality experiences and family friendly entertainment throughout race weekend.
Tickets for the Apex Group Bermuda Sail Grand Prix are expected to go on sale later this year.
Tuesday, May 19, 2026
Ebbin & Tulane Flying High as Eastern National Semis Begin
IslandStats.com
The prestigious College Open Eastern National Semifinals are officially underway, with South Florida playing host to a fiercely competitive 420 Fleet. Sailors from across the region have descended upon the coast, battling tricky coastal conditions for a coveted spot in the national finals.
Among the fleet, a handful of familiar names are making waves, experiencing contrasting fortunes over the opening exchanges of the regatta.
It has been a stellar start for Christian Ebbin and the Tulane University team. Displaying tactical maturity and consistent speed, Tulane sits comfortably in fourth place overall in the team standings, accumulating just 44 points to keep themselves firmly in the hunt for the podium.
Ebbin has been central to that success, taking the helm of the Tulane 'B' boat. Competing in a relentless B Division, Ebbin navigated the crowded start lines brilliantly to leave the boat occupying eighth place in the division with 16 points, providing a massive boost to Tulane’s silverware aspirations.
Further down the leaderboard, it proved to be a testing opening day for PJ Rodrigues and Jordan Vieira, who are representing Eckerd College. The duo’s combined efforts leave Eckerd sitting in 16th place overall on a total of 79 points, leaving them with plenty of work to do in the upcoming sessions.
Rodrigues took on the challenge of the highly competitive A Division boat for Eckerd. It was a grueling shift on the water, and Rodrigues ultimately came off the waves with the boat positioned 17th in the division on 58 points.
Meanwhile, teammate Vieira spearheaded the Eckerd 'B' boat campaign. Vieira enjoyed a slightly more fruitful run in the B Division, finding cleaner air to secure 15th place in the division with 28 points.
With more racing on the horizon in South Florida, Eckerd will look to unlock more pace in the 420 Fleet, while Ebbin and Tulane will be desperate to consolidate their top-five status.
