Team Bermuda parade at SSL Gold Cup Opening Ceremony
IslandStats.com
The 2026 Pan-American Qualifiers are officially underway, and SSL Team Bermuda was right at the heart of the action, joining rival nations for a spectacular Opening Ceremony.
Bermuda will now compete against Mexico, Cuba and El Salvador. 1st place will advance, with 2nd & 3rd place competing against 2nd & 3rd place of the other group (Uruguay, Puerto Rico, Venezuela & Antigua) with the winner of this race advancing through.
The crowd gathered in anticipation as Bermuda’s elite sailing squad marched alongside their continental competitors, marking the official commencement of the high-stakes qualifying tournament.
Clad in the national colours and proudly flying the Bermuda flag, the team’s entrance was a special moment for the island's maritime community, signifying the start of what promises to be a gruelling yet historic campaign.
The challenge is now officially set. With a coveted place in the SSL Gold Cup Finals on the line, the competition is about to reach fever pitch on the water.
Bermuda's sailors have spent years preparing for this very stage, and they are ready to give it their all in the race to secure their spot among the world's best. With a fiercely competitive field of nations looking to spoil the party, Bermuda’s squad will need to find their finest form as they take to the ocean for the first round of races.
The campaign has begun—now, all eyes turn to the water.
Wednesday, November 11, 2026
Bromby and Pritchard Seize Star World Championship Lead
IslandStats.com
Bermuda's Peter Bromby and Myles Pritchard have moved to the top of the leaderboard at the 2026 Star World Championship following an unpredictable third day of racing on Biscayne Bay.
A composed sixth-place finish in race three was enough to propel the Bermudian crew into the overall lead with 19 points, capitalising on a volatile afternoon that completely overhauled the podium standings.
Germany’s Max Kohlhof and Ole Burzinski claimed victory on the day, holding off the American tandem of George Szabo and Guy Avellon in second, while former world champions Mateusz Kusznierewicz (Poland) and Bruno Prada (Brazil) crossed third.
Italy’s Diego Negri and Sergio Lambertenghi climbed into second overall on 23 points after taking fifth in race three, while Norway’s Eivind Melleby and Christian Nehammer slotted into third overall on 28 points despite crossing 11th.
Overnight leaders Will Stout and Danny Cayard endured a bruising afternoon. The American pair, who won race two, suffered a costly 25th-place finish that dropped them to fifth overall on 32 points, just behind Brazilian Olympic legend Robert Scheidt and Austin Sperry.
With 95 entries competing in the regatta hosted by the Coral Reef Yacht Club, consistency has proved paramount in the early stages, with discards not coming into play until the completion of race five.
Top Ten Leaderboard after Race 3
19 BER - Peter Bromby / Myles Pritchard 23 ITA - Diego Negri / Sergio Lambertenghi 28 NOR - Eivind Melleby / Christian Nehammer 29 BRA - Robert Scheidt / Austin Sperry 32 USA - Will Stout / Danny Cayard 33 USA - George Szabo / Guy Avellon 35 USA - Eric Doyle / Payson Infelise 37 USA - Augie Diaz / David Burrows 41 USA - Scott Barnard / Kilian Weise
Monday, November 09, 2026
Bermuda Headline Group I in SSL Gold Cup Qualifying
IslandStats.com
Bermuda’s sailing team will look to convert regional pedigree into a finals berth this week as the decisive qualifying stage for the second edition of the SSL Gold Cup gets under way in Rio de Janeiro.
Dubbed the "Football World Cup in Sailing", the prestigious regatta reaches its final qualification hurdle from 12 to 15 November, directly preceding the main finals series on Guanabara Bay.
The Pan American qualification series represents the last chance for nations to book their tickets, with the fleet battling to secure the remaining open places on the starting line.
Group I brings together three familiar rivals from the Caribbean and western Atlantic, with SSL Team Bermuda drawn alongside SSL Team Antigua and Barbuda and SSL Team Guatemala.
Currently sitting 47th in the SSL Nations Ranking, Bermuda enter the round-robin contest as the highest-ranked outfit in the group.
Both Bermuda and Antigua and Barbuda arrive with proven tournament pedigree, having navigated the knockout stages during the previous edition's qualifying rounds. The two island rivals previously emerged together from the 1/32 final to reach the 1/16 finals, where Antigua ultimately placed 26th overall and Bermuda finished 31st.
Guatemala complete the trio, aiming to break through after falling short of the finals stage in the inaugural edition.
With only the group winner guaranteed to advance to the showpiece finals alongside sailing’s global elite, the stage is set for a fierce battle on Brazilian waters.
Tuesday, November 03, 2026
Eckerd Second after Solid Opening Day at SAISA Fall Championship
IslandStats.com
Bermudian sailors PJ Rodrigues and Jordan Vieira played key roles as Eckerd College mounted a strong challenge on day one of the SAISA Fall Open Fleet Race Championship in Charleston, South Carolina.
Contesting the conference championship regatta, the Tritons closed out the opening day of racing in second place overall with a combined tally of 73 points, anchored by consistent sailing across both fleet divisions.
In Division B, Bermudian skipper Jordan Vieira teamed up with crew Avery Guck to deliver a masterclass in consistency. The pairing opened their regatta in scintillating form, claiming four consecutive second-place finishes across the opening four races. That blistering sequence helped secure third position in the division standings with 30 points, providing the backbone to Eckerd's podium push.
Over in Division A, fellow Bermudian PJ Rodrigues took the helm alongside crew Peyton Seidle. The duo enjoyed their standout moment in the sixth race of the day, crossing the line in third place. A steady series of results saw Rodrigues and Seidle accumulate 43 points, good enough to hold fourth place in the Division A table at the midway stage.
With both divisions firmly in the hunt, Eckerd College remain well positioned to challenge for the conference crown when racing resumes for the decisive final day on the water.
Sunday, November 01, 2026
Champions Claim Titles as Bermuda Keelboat Regatta Concludes
IslandStats.com
John Hele, David Leach, and American skipper Doug Newhouse secured championship honours across three competitive fleets as the 2026 Bermuda Keelboat Regatta drew to a close in the Great Sound.
Staged in brisk autumn breezes on the waters off Hamilton, the multi-class showcase delivered sharp tactical racing across the Etchells, RS21, and FarEast28R divisions.
In the Etchells fleet, John Hele steered Renegade to a commanding series triumph, relying on relentless front-running form across all six races. Hele logged three race wins and three runner-up finishes to close out the regatta with an unbeatable net score of 9.0 points.
Olympian Paula Lewin mounted a spirited challenge aboard Trash, taking second place on 12.0 points. Paul Wright helmed Tiburon to third position on 21.0 points, edging out Aiden Young on Renegade 2 on countback after finishing level on scoreline. Tyler Simmons guided Critter to fifth with 37.0 points, while Cameron de St Croix rounded out the division aboard Avalanche on 42.0.
The RS21 fleet saw David Leach assert his authority over a compact three-race schedule. Leach opened with back-to-back victories before sealing overall honours with a third-place finish in race three, finishing top of the leaderboard with 5.0 points.
Sebastian Round produced a consistent series of results, culminating in a win in the final race to take second place on 7.0 points. Patrick Cooper claimed third with 8.0 points after posting two runner-up finishes, while Richard Neame finished fourth on 11.0.
In the FarEast28R class, visiting American skipper Doug Newhouse delivered a masterclass aboard his Imperial Poona Yacht Club entry. Dominating the nine-race slate, Newhouse chalked up seven victories and a second-place finish to seal a runaway victory with 9.0 net points.
Canada’s Andrew McCrae took second place for Oakville Yacht Squadron on 16.0 points, while Bermuda’s Somers Kempe was the top local finisher in third aboard his Royal Bermuda Yacht Club entry on 24.0 points.
Great Britain's David Maclean took fourth on 26.0 points, followed by Bermudians Kelsey Durham (44.0) and Hal Kempe (44.0) in fifth and sixth, with American Lance Ryley finishing seventh on 45.0.
