Bacardi Cup
Cayard and Kleen edge Kusznierewicz and Prada in dramatic photo finish
The 99th Bacardi Cup opened Monday with champagne sailing and a close finish that set the tone for the week ahead. On a 15 to 17 knot champagne day, 77 Star teams charged off the line on Biscayne Bay for the first of six scheduled races.
After more than two hours of long-course racing, Paul Cayard and Frithjof Kleen (USA) claimed the opening victory over six-time consecutive Bacardi Cup champions Mateusz Kusznierewicz and Bruno Prada (POL). Robert Scheidt and Austin Sperry (BRA) finished third.
The opening beat stretched more than two nautical miles, with the left side paying early before the breeze began oscillating across the course.
Race 1 Results
1. Paul Cayard/Frithjof Kleen (USA)
2. Mateusz Kusznierewicz/Bruno Prada (POL)
3. Robert Scheidt/Austin Sperry (BRA)
4. Diego Negri/Sergio Lambertenghi (ITA)
5. Brian Ledbetter/Brian Terhaar (USA)
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