MIAMI (March 8, 2026) — After 45 years of chasing one of sailing’s most storied trophies, Paul Cayard finally won the Bacardi Cup. Alongside Frithjof Kleen, the two put the cherry on top of their legendary year: after winning the 2025 Star World Championship, Cayard now claims a title he has been chasing for 46 years.
The trophy was hard-earned. Robert Scheidt and Austin Sperry, just three points behind Cayard and Kleen, forced a final race showdown that history won’t soon forget.
How often do spectators get to witness a match race during a fleet race between two of the sport’s most legendary stars? “When I’m dead, they’ll still be playing that one,” said a smiling Cayard onshore.
On Saturday afternoon in Coconut Grove, Cayard and Frithjof Kleen secured victory in the 99th Bacardi Cup, defeating Robert Scheidt and Austin Sperry in a dramatic final race. For nearly a week the regatta had been a duel between two of the sport’s most decorated sailors.
Cayard’s America’s Cup-honed match race prowess sealed the championship and ended one of sailing’s longest personal pursuits. “I’ve been chasing the Bacardi Cup for 45 years,” Cayard said. “I’ve gotten second many times. It was the one thing I hadn’t won in the Star class.”
Ten minutes before the start, Cayard engaged. The two teams match raced for five minutes before the starting sequence even began. Cayard entered the race with a three-point lead and a plan. Scheidt needed to win the race or finish second, while Cayard could sail his throwout.
“So when you get a situation like that, you have the opportunity to try to make it not a race,” Cayard explained. “We got on Robert and just made his life miserable basically.”
The aggressive pre-start engagement pushed both boats deep behind the fleet as the gun fired. “Robert & Austin had some difficulties in the boat handling, and we both crossed the starting line way behind the fleet, 100 meters late,” Cayard said. “So I would say 90 percent of my job was done right there.”
Scheidt fought hard to escape his captor and eventually managed to shake loose, charging through the fleet in a remarkable comeback. Despite Cayard’s efforts to control him, Scheidt passed boat after boat and climbed toward the top of the leaderboard.
On the final lap, Cayard and Kleen began to visibly relax. Their fate was now in Scheidt’s hands. He did everything he could, finishing 10th overall. But it was not enough. Cayard and Kleen had done their job. The Bacardi Cup was theirs.
With this victory, Cayard highlighted the importance of chemistry in a successful sailing partnership. “What makes a dominant team is chemistry. When we sail our best, we’re pretty hard to beat,” said Kleen.
For both sailors, the victory carries weight far beyond one single regatta. The Bacardi Cup has been a long-standing tradition in the Star class, reflecting community and camaraderie within the sailing world. The podium was completed by six-time consecutive champions Mateusz Kusznierewicz and Bruno Prada, who defeated Diego Negri and Sergio Lambertenghi to earn the bronze medal.
As next year marks the 100th Bacardi Cup, it will undoubtedly be a milestone that reflects one of the longest-standing commercial partnerships in all of sport. Cayard now joins the long line of champions whose names are etched into the history of the Cup.
99th Bacardi Cup – Top 5 Final Results
1. Paul Cayard/Frithjof Kleen (USA) – 11 points
2. Robert Scheidt/Austin Sperry (BRA) – 12 points
3. Mateusz Kusznierewicz/Bruno Prada (POL) – 16 points
4. Diego Negri/Sergio Lambertenghi (ITA) – 23 points
5. Eric Doyle/Payson Infelise (USA) – 30 points
Bacardi Cup and Bacardi Invitational Regatta
Results: bacardiregattas.sailti.com
Photos: facebook.com/BacardiCupInvitational/photos_albums
Facebook: facebook.com/BacardiCupInvitational
Instagram: instagram.com/bacardi_regatta
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