All images credit ; Bacardi Cup 2026 – Hannah Lee Noll and Anna Suslova
Doyle Sails powered teams have taken top honours at the 99th edition of the Bacardi Cup in Miami, with Paul Cayard and Frithjof Kleen securing a long-awaited overall victory in one of the most prestigious regattas in the Star Class sailing calendar.
For Cayard, the win carries special meaning after decades of competing in the iconic event. “Amazing, relief and joy and satisfaction,” said Cayard after clinching the title. “I have been chasing the Bacardi Cup for 45 years. It’s the one thing I haven’t won in the Star Class.”
Sailing a consistent regatta in the ultra-competitive fleet, the American-German pairing delivered a composed performance across the series to finish on just 11 points and secure the overall victory.
Hot on their heels were Brazil’s Robert Scheidt and Austin Sperry, another Doyle-powered team, who pushed the leaders throughout the week and finished just one point behind on 12 points.
Completing the podium were Olympic champions Mateusz Kusznierewicz and Bruno Prada, finishing third overall on 16 points after a competitive week of racing on Biscayne Bay.
With Doyle Sails powering the top three teams and dominating the front of the fleet, the result once again underlines Doyle Sails’ strength within the Star Class, where precision sail design and expert tuning remain critical in one of sailing’s most technically demanding keelboats.
All sails were designed and built by the Doyle Sails One Design experts in Salem, Massachusetts, under Jud Smith’s watchful eye; a testament to the precision, craftsmanship, and race-winning performance that defines the program.
These sails are available to order now. Contact Jud Smith or Tomas Hornos at Doyle Sails Salem
99th Bacardi Cup – Overall Results
- Paul Cayard / Frithjof Kleen (USA) – 11 pts
- Robert Scheidt / Austin Sperry (BRA) – 12 pts
- Mateusz Kusznierewicz / Bruno Prada (POL) – 16 pts
DOYLE ONE DESIGN // Winning sailors know that when boats are identical, sails become a significant opportunity to gain a performance advantage. Doyle Sails utilises a computational simulation environment to engineer sails that are faster out of the bag, easier to trim and maintain their designed shape through a greater wind range.
The Doyle Sails One Design group boasts some of the world’s leading sailors and sail designers, all with equally impressive lists of accomplishments and accolades across a wide variety of classes and events. Learn more >>
ABOUT DOYLE SAILS // As sailors, our obsession with sailing connects us to the water. The water is our playground, a sanctuary where we seek enjoyment, a competitive playing field where we race as comrades; it’s sometimes our home and always a place that unlocks our sense of adventure wherever that adventure might take us.
Our obsession with sailing takes us to every corner of the world and onboard every yacht. We become part of teams, share in the adventures of friends and families, sharing our knowledge and experience with those who have the same passion for sailing as we do. Sailing is in our DNA, where the water unlocks our sense of adventure. We are the custodians of a legacy that has been supporting sailors for close to four decades, and while our world changes around us, our commitment to sailors who seek the same enjoyment and adventure as we do hasn’t.
From our sailors to yours. We are your experts in sailing. Your adventure starts with Doyle. By sailors, for sailors.