Bermuda Sailors Continue World Championship Challenge
IslandStats.com
The five young sailors representing Bermuda continued their campaign today at the 2025 Optimist World Championship in Portorož, Slovenia. Day Two of the prestigious event, featuring a vast fleet of 281 sailors from around the globe, saw two more races successfully completed, bringing the series total to four races.
Thomas McBain continues to lead the Bermudian contingent, despite a slight drop in the overall standings. He is currently sitting in 160th place overall with 159 points, falling from his initial 115th position. His best finish on day two was a strong 48th, indicating his potential to climb the ranks as the regatta progresses.
Jesse Savage also experienced a drop down the leaderboard, starting the day in 147th and coming off the water in 188th place with 178 points.
Harry Brown ended the second day in 206th place with 191 points, while Emma Brown is currently in 216th place with 203 points. Rounding out the Bermudian team's standings is Heath Meyers, who holds the 229th spot with 214 points.
The Optimist World Championship is renowned as a proving ground for future sailing stars, and Bermuda's young team will be looking to regroup and build on their performances as the regatta continues over the coming days in Slovenia. The experience gained in this highly competitive international fleet will be invaluable for their long-term development.
Sunday, June 29, 2025
Comet Class Regatta & Fitted Dinghies Deliver Three Winners
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Bermuda's vibrant sailing scene delivered another action-packed day on the water, with the Comet Class and the iconic Fitted Dinghies both completing their respective regattas.
In the Lawrence Hendrickson Sr. Comet Class Regatta, held off the Mid-Atlantic Sailboat Club, it was the pairing of Dale Brangman and his crew Tre’sure Nanette who claimed overall victory. Sailors navigated light, near-south winds that veered southwest under building clouds. Brangman and Nanette showcased their consistency, securing victory with just four points after two wins, a second-place finish, and a third.
Maxwell Curtis and his crew Wesley Tucker finished second with six points, while Zaniko Hendrickson and his crew rounded out the podium in third with eight points. Greg Wade and Geno Smith also tallied eight points to finish fourth, and Quinton Simons and his crew Greg Proctor completed the top five with twelve points.
Meanwhile, the Bermuda Fitted Dinghy Race season continued with three exhilarating races in Granaway Deep, hosted by the Royal Hamilton Amateur Dinghy Club. The day was a true display of competitive dinghy racing, with each of the three races seeing a different winner.
In the first race, the RHADC Cup, it was Victory IV, expertly skippered by Allan Frith and representing the St. George's Dinghy and Sports Club, that took the win. Contest III, helmed by Josh Greenslade out of the Royal Bermuda Yacht Club, finished second, followed by Elizabeth II, led by Michael Wollman from the Royal Hamilton Amateur Dinghy Club, in third. Challenger II, skippered by Sebastian Kempe from the Sandys Boat Club, finished fourth.
The second race, for the Whitney Cup, saw Sebastian Kempe lead Challenger II to victory, showcasing his skill on the demanding Granaway Deep course.
And in the final race of the day, for the Trott Cup, Josh Greenslade skillfully guided Contest III to claim the win. The varied winners across the day's races underscore the thrilling and unpredictable nature of Bermuda Fitted Dinghy racing.
RHADC Cup
1. Victory IV 2. Contest III 3. Elizabeth II 4. Challenger II
Whitney Cup
1. Challenger II 2. Victory IV 3. Elizabeth II 4. Contest III
Trott Cup
1. Contest III 2. Victory IV 3. Elizabeth II 4. Challenger II
Saturday, June 28, 2025
Bermuda Optimist Sailors Begin World Championship
IslandStats.com
Five promising young sailors from Bermuda have taken to the waters of Portorož, Slovenia, to commence their challenge at the 2025 Optimist World Championship. Day one of the prestigious event, featuring a vast fleet of 281 sailors from around the globe, saw two races successfully completed under a pleasant sea breeze.
Thomas McBain currently leads the Bermudian contingent, sitting in 115th place overall with 61 points. His best finish in the opening two races was a strong 25th, indicating his potential to climb the ranks.
Close behind, Jesse Savage occupies the 147th spot with 74 points. Savage's strongest performance came in the second race, where he crossed the line in 32nd position.
Emma Brown ended the first day in 198th place with 95 points, recording a notable 35th place finish in the second race. Her brother, Harry Brown, is currently in 221st place with 105 points, with his best result being a 45th in the first race.
Rounding out the Bermudian team's initial standings is Heath Meyers, who holds the 233rd spot with 111 points, his best finish being 50th in the first race.
The Optimist World Championship is renowned as a proving ground for future sailing stars, and Bermuda's young team will be looking to build on their opening day performances as the regatta continues over the coming days in Slovenia.
Friday, June 27, 2025
SailGP confirms Bermuda Dates
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The countdown begins: the Apex Group Bermuda Sail Grand Prix will officially take place May 9–10, 2026, SailGP has confirmed today as part of its global season announcement. This, as the franchise continues with confirmed expansion plans for 2026 and beyond.
The world’s fastest sailing fleet will once again descend on Bermuda’s iconic Great Sound, delivering two days of electrifying racing, international media exposure, and meaningful economic impact.
Bermuda was previously announced as a host city for the 2026 Rolex SailGP Championship, and today’s update cements its place on the calendar among international destinations including New York, Saint-Tropez, Rio de Janeiro, Sydney, and Abu Dhabi. The 2026 season will span 11 months and is expected to be SailGP’s most expensive yet.
This announcement builds on the success of previous Bermuda editions. In 2024, the Apex Group Bermuda Sail Grand Prix generated $4.9 million in economic impact, drew 4,277 attendees, and reached 13.5 million broadcast viewers, with 41.2 million video views across social media.
“The return of the Apex Group Bermuda Sail Grand Prix in 2026 marks a strategic milestone for Bermuda,” said Erin Wright, Acting CEO of the Bermuda Tourism Authority. “This isn’t just a premier sporting event, it’s a catalyst for growth. With global broadcast visibility and international appeal, SailGP strengthens Bermuda’s position on the world stage while driving visitation and local economic impact. It also aligns with our National Tourism Plan leveraging sports tourism as a growth opportunity while reinforcing our shared commitment to sustainability and community engagement.”
The 2026 Apex Group Bermuda Sail Grand Prix will mark Bermuda’s fourth time hosting the high-octane series, with national teams racing identical 50-foot foiling catamarans at speeds approaching 100 km/h. Fans can expect an immersive waterfront experience, elevated hospitality, and community-driven programming.
Wednesday, June 25, 2025
Betschart Finishes Strong & Just Off Female Podium
IslandStats.com
Sailor Rachael Betschart has concluded her highly impactful campaign at Foiling Week 2025 in Italy, securing a commendable 37th place overall in the competitive WASZP Fleet and narrowly missing a podium finish in the female category.
The world's premier event dedicated to foiling boats, the 12th edition of Foiling Week, brought together a record-breaking 131 registered athletes in the WASZP class alone. After twelve demanding races, Betschart, representing the Royal Bermuda Yacht Club, finished with 246 net points. This is a strong performance in a fleet of 110 skilled international sailors, highlighting her ability to compete at a high level.
On the final day of racing, Betschart completed three more races, crossing the line in 24th, 49th, and 39th respectively. Despite these mixed results on the last day, her overall consistency and flashes of brilliance throughout the week, including a best individual finish of 12th earlier in the regatta, kept her firmly in contention.
While just off the overall female podium in 4th place, Betschart's participation and strong results in this highly competitive international event are a testament to her continued development as a prominent Bermudian sailor on the international stage.
