The Tulane sailing team has once again asserted its absolute command over the Gulf Coast, completing a stunning clean sweep of the SEISA Fall Championships in Corpus Christi, Texas. Guided by the stellar performance of skipper Sophia Dias, the Green Wave secured the Open Championship for the sixth consecutive time in completed regattas, while the women’s team claimed their seventh straight conference title.
The Wave’s dominance was evident from the opening gun, starting with the Women's Fleet Race Championship. Tulane finished the regatta with a remarkable total of just 28 points through eight rotations, securing first place by a massive 34-point margin. Overall, the Green Wave won eight of the 16 total races across the two women's divisions.
The Bermuda-based Sophia Dias was the standout performer. She teamed up with crew Caitlin Briggs in the A Division to deliver a near-perfect run, pacing all sailors with a low score of just 10 points. The formidable duo combined to win six races and finished in the top two spots in all eight rotations, providing the foundation for Tulane’s title defence.
In the B Division, the combination of Ashley Hoguet, Allie Capsso, and Charlotte Casey also delivered a crucial performance, placing second overall with 18 points and earning a pair of race victories in the process.
The comprehensive victories underline Tulane’s position as a powerhouse in collegiate sailing, with the team now looking forward to the next stage of the season.
Sunday, October 26, 2025
Swedish Sailors Dominate Gold Cup in Hamilton Harbour
Photo by Ian Roman
IslandStats.com
It was a day of Scandinavian supremacy on the water as Swedish skippers delivered a clean sweep of the titles at the prestigious match racing events in Hamilton. Johnie Berntsson successfully defended his crown to become the Bermuda Gold Cup Champion, while compatriot Anna Östling secured the Aspen Bermuda Match Racing Regatta title, completing a stunning Swedish double victory.
The much-anticipated Bermuda Gold Cup Final saw defending champion Johnie Berntsson of Sweden face Great Britain’s eight-time world champion, Ian Williams. In a highly tactical battle, Berntsson showcased his mastery of the International One Design (IOD) sloops and the notoriously shifty Hamilton Harbour conditions.
Berntsson delivered a clinical 3-0 sweep over Williams in the best-of-five final series. Despite Williams pushing him hard in the pre-starts, Berntsson’s boat speed and flawless execution on the water proved decisive, earning him the coveted King Edward VII Trophy once again.
The Aspen Bermuda Match Racing Regatta Final provided similar success for Sweden, with Anna Östling facing a determined challenge from Lea Vogelius of Denmark.
The final was more closely fought, with Vogelius managing to claim one race, but Östling’s experience shone through. She controlled the series with tight manoeuvres and strategic advantages to defeat the Dane 3-1. The victory cements Östling’s reputation as one of the world's elite women match racers and marks a major title win in Bermuda.
The dual victories cap off a spectacular week of sailing and underscore Sweden’s current dominance at the pinnacle of match racing.
Sunday, October 26, 2025
Friths Sail to Victory in Elton Millet Memorial Regatta
IslandStats.com
Alan and Sarah Frith were crowned the 2025 Elton Millet Memorial Regatta Champions in a thrilling, high-stakes finale on St. George’s Harbour. Hosted by the East End Mini Yacht Club, this prestigious regatta, named in honour of a man with a rich history in Bermudian sailing, delivered unpredictable action right up to the final race.
The Friths showed consistency and nerve, building momentum throughout the day. They opened with a second-place finish in the first race, followed by a third in the second. However, their true champion form emerged in the latter half of the regatta, where they claimed decisive victories in the final two races to secure the title with a total of four points.
The battle for the top spot was incredibly tight, with the winners determined only by countback. Maxwell Curtis and Wesley Tucker also finished with four points after a day of dramatic highs and lows. The pair started brilliantly, winning both the first and second races. Their challenge was derailed in the pivotal third race, however, where they recorded a crucial 'Did Not Finish'. They salvaged a second place in the final race, but it was not enough to overcome the Friths’ late surge.
The third spot on the podium went to Dale Brangman and his crew Siyon Paynter, who managed to fight back from a rocky start. After also recording a 'Did Not Finish' in the first race, they found their footing with a second-place finish in the second race and closed out the day consistently with two third-place finishes in the final two races, securing third overall with a total of eight points.
The regatta was a fitting tribute to Elton Millet, showcasing the intense, competitive spirit that defines sailing in the East End.
2025 Elton Millet Memorial Regatta Final Results
04 Alan Frith & Sarah Frith 04 Maxwell Curtis & Wesley Tucker 08 Dale Brangman & Siyon Paynter- 10 Gladwin Lambert & Gregory Proctor 12 Gregory Wade & Geno Smith
Saturday, October 25, 2025
Bermudian Sailors Guide Dalhousie to Championship
IslandStats.com
Bermudian sailors Ahzai Smith and Nicole Stovell helped power the Dalhousie Sailing team to a crucial first-place finish at the Quebec Regional Championships, overcoming challenging conditions hosted by McGill in Montreal.
The regatta was severely hampered by weather on the opening day, with no wind and no racing possible, putting immense pressure on all competitors to perform on the second and final day.
Despite the condensed schedule, the Dalhousie team demonstrated exceptional focus and skill. The crew, featuring the vital contributions of Smith and Stovell, executed a strong performance on the water to secure the overall victory.
The win at the Quebec Regional Championships highlights the strong start to the season for Dalhousie and the valuable roles played by the Bermudian duo in navigating the competitive regional field.
Saturday, October 25, 2025
Gold Cup Thrilling High-Stakes Finals Set
IslandStats.com
The stage is set for a monumental showdown on the waters of Hamilton Harbour, with the King Edward VII Trophy—the coveted Bermuda Gold Cup—set to be decided on Sunday. Eight-time match racing world champion Ian Williams of Great Britain has earned the right to challenge the formidable defending champion, Johnie Berntsson of Sweden, in what promises to be a thrilling best-of-five final.
Williams secured his passage to the final through an utterly tense and nail-biting semi-final against American Chris Poole. The match was a masterclass in aggressive boat handling and strategic duelling, going the full distance in the best-of-five format.
It was a battle where neither team gave an inch, but Williams ultimately found the decisive advantage when it mattered most, scraping through with a hard-fought 3-2 victory. The Briton’s ability to recover from pressure and execute under high stakes demonstrates why he remains a perennial threat in this format.
Standing in Williams’ way is the Swedish master of the Gold Cup, Johnie Berntsson. The defending champion cemented his place in the final with a commanding performance against Eric Monnin of Switzerland.
Berntsson and his crew looked sharp and decisive, wasting little time in dispatching the Swiss challenge with a dominant 3-1 win. Having already lifted the Gold Cup multiple times, Berntsson’s deep knowledge of the Hamilton Harbour conditions and the venerable International One Design (IOD) boats makes him the clear standard-bearer. The final will see a true clash of match racing titans.
The equally compelling Aspen Bermuda Match Racing Regatta will also culminate on Sunday, featuring its own dramatic final between two European heavyweights.
Anna Östling of Sweden, after a huge battle, saw off a tough challenge from the USA's Nicole Breault, taking her semi-final with a tight 3-2 scoreline. She will face Lea Vogelius of Denmark, who caused a significant upset by sweeping aside the highly-fancied French team led by Pauline Courtois with an emphatic 3-0 victory in her semi-final.
Both the Gold Cup and the Aspen Women’s Match Racing Regatta Finals will be contested as a best-of-five series, with the Petit Finals for third place being a best-of-three affair.
All eyes will be on Hamilton Harbour on Sunday as two prestigious titles are decided in what promises to be a spectacular display of high-speed, close-quarters sailing.
