In what is supposed to be an off year, 80 boats signed up to participate in the 2001 Bacardi Cup which took place on March 4-9. Many of the world's top sailors were on the entry list: Paul Cayard sailed with Hal Haenel in a brand new Folli boat. Torben Grael and Marcelo Ferreira, the Brazilian bronze medal winners from Sydney, participated as did Colin Beashel and David Giles, from Australia. Rod Davis, from New Zealand, sailed in a borrowed boat which he used in the Savannah Olympics with Mark Dolan. World Champion and multi-Bacardi Cup winner Vince Brun, sailed with Doug Brophy and Eric Doyle sailed again with his former partner, Brian Terhaar. John MacCausland (“Little Mac”) was back with his world champion crew, Phil Trinter, and “Big Mac” was back in the saddle again with Craig Prandini as crew. (Getting ready for the 2001 N.A.’s are we?).

Then there are some new names of “dynamite” sailors, who are making a commitment to stay with the class as we are heading for a new showdown a few years away. There was George Szabo, sailing with the Bahamian, Bill Hollowesko and Andy Lovell, teaming up with the local, Prieur Leary. Among others, adding to this highly competitive fleet were the Bahamians, Jim Lowe / Andrew Higgs and the local champions Augie Diaz / Mark Strube.

Missing in action this year were Ding Schoonmaker, Stig Wennerstrom and Frank Zagarino. Stig is recovering form serious surgery, but the good news is that he is doing well and he has plans to sail in 20th Districts later on this Spring.

Serious weather problems on Monday and Tuesday limited the number of races to five.

Sunday, Race 1: Wind: 17-19 knots. Mark Reynolds and Magnus Liljedahl started at the pin end and after flopping onto Starboard got a favorable lift which put them around the weather mark by a huge margin. This lead they protected for the rest of the race. Colin Beashel / David Giles did a nice job getting in second. They passed several boats and they actually closed in some on Mark’s and Magnus’ gigantic lead. Magnus commented that he noticed Colin up on the foredeck, checking out his mast. That's how big their lead was to the third place boat. Cayard / Haenel did an impressive job, passing Grael / Feirerra on the last beat and MacCausland / Trinter did a nice job on the last beat, to finish fifth.

Peter Bromby, the eventual winner of the series, had a DNF for the day. He later commented, “On the first day we busted the outhaul and it was my fault. Plus, this is the first time Martin has raced in a Star boat. The first time he even saw a Star was on the way over here!”

Wednesday, Race 2: Wind: 7-16 knots. This time going right was the right way to go. Torben Grael / Marcelo Ferreira led big and they won the race by a large margin. It was a sweet revenge for the Brazilians, who led the race big when it was called off on Tuesday. Colin Beashel / David Giles did a nice job coming in second again, and Jimmy Freeman / Bruce Hatfield came in third.

Thursday: two races held.
Race 3: Wind: 5-9 knots. This was Big Mac’s and Craig Prandini’s day, rounding the windward mark in first place. They did this by going way left. By the end of the race they were still in fifth place. Peter Bromby / Martin Siese racked up the first of their two first places. Little Mac / Phil Trinter came in second and Paul Cayard / Hal Haenel came in third.

Race 4: Wind: 4-7 knots. George Szabo / Billy Hollowesko led most of this race, but Vince Brun / Doug Brophy past them the second time up and finished first. Third went to Terry Hutchinson / Andrew Scott.

Friday, Race 5: Winds 12-14 knots. Peter Bromby / Martin Siese did it again and won their second race, and with this the Bacardi Cup for 2001. Reynolds / Liljedahl were second and Hutchinson / Scott third. After Sunday’s mishap, Bromby and Siese were very consistent, coming in fifth, first and third place finish. With Friday’s victory, the duo finished the series with 10 points. The next best score was turned in by Australia’s Colin Beashel and David Giles, who had 20 points. As is the case with a long series, consistency typically wins out.