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Monday, May 18, 2026
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Elite Youth Sailors Set for North American Title Assault
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Bermuda’s next generation of sailing talent is heading north to compete against the continent's finest at the 2026 Optimist North American Championship.
The Bermuda Optimist Dinghy Association (BODA) has unveiled a formidable nine-strong roster for the prestigious regatta, which takes place in Halifax, Canada, from 21st May to 28th May.
Hosted by the historic Royal Nova Scotia Yacht Squadron, the high-stakes event will feature a massive fleet of more than 200 elite young sailors representing countries from across North America and beyond.
The selected sailors have earned their spots on the start line following an intensive, globetrottting high-performance preparation programme designed to test them in all conditions.
The squad traveled to Spain in February to test their mettle at the Palamos International Optimist Trophy, before gaining further vital racing minutes in April at the fiercely competitive JK Pirat Portorož Easter Regatta in Slovenia.
Faced with massive European fleets, the young Bermudians gained critical tactical experience, specifically sharpening their positioning on congested start lines and adapting to varied wind and wave patterns—exposure that coaches believe will be invaluable on the waters of Nova Scotia.
The traveling contingent will be led by high-performance coach Pablo Weber, alongside team leader Steve Smith and country representative Rinear Coulter.
The nine athletes flying the island's flag in Halifax represent the top tier of Bermuda's youth sailing pipeline, drawing talent from the Royal Bermuda Yacht Club (RBYC) and the Royal Hamilton Amateur Dinghy Club (RHADC):
Heath Meyers (RBYC)
Jesse Savage (RHADC)
Rex Henagulph (RBYC)
Calypso Coulter (RBYC)
Ishmael Dill (RBYC)
Elaine Jones (RBYC)
Walker Smith (RBYC)
Alfie Jansma (RBYC)
Miguel Leite (RBYC)
"The participation of these sailors at the international championship level is a testament to the skill, dedication and resilience of Bermuda's young athletes," a BODA spokesperson said ahead of the team's departure.
"Through BODA's High-Performance Programme, we remain committed to developing the next generation of world-class sailors. We wish our sailors the very best as they take on this incredible challenge and represent Bermuda on the global stage.
"Their countless hours of training and unwavering dedication to prepare for this event are truly impressive and deserve the highest admiration."
The association also expressed deep gratitude to the Bermuda Sailing Association, local yacht clubs, parents, and donors, noting that their "steadfast support makes these transformative opportunities possible and motivates us to continue striving for excellence."
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Sunday, May 17, 2026
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Brangman and Nanette Conquer St. George’s
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Dale Brangman and crew Tre’sure Nanette navigated a crowded St. George’s Harbour with surgical precision to claim the Ace Installers Regatta 2026 title.
In what proved to be a tactical masterclass, the duo fended off a high-calibre fleet of Comet Class sailors to secure the first major silverware of the season in the historic East End waters.
Brangman and Nanette established their dominance early, picking up two bullet finishes across the day's races. Their consistency proved the deciding factor, as they finished with a total of 4 points, narrowly edging out their closest rivals in a regatta where every puff of wind in the harbour was vital.
The battle for the remaining podium spots was a tightly contested affair. Maxwell Curtis and Wesley Tucker pushed the leaders until the final leg, eventually securing second place with 5 points. Meanwhile, the experienced Gladwin Lambert, assisted by Amber Bradshaw, utilised their local knowledge to navigate the shifts and claim third with 9 points.
The Ace Installers Regatta is renowned for its technical difficulty, with the narrow confines of the harbour often creating unpredictable wind pockets. Brangman’s ability to find clean air amidst the crowded fleet allowed him to dictate the tempo of both winning races, rarely looking troubled once he secured the lead.
As the Comet Class prepares for the heavy summer schedule, Brangman has laid down a significant marker, proving that his partnership with Nanette is the one to beat heading into the heritage months.
Ace Installers Regatta 2026
04 Dale Brangman/Tre’sure Nanette
05 Maxwell Curtis/Wesley Tucker
09 Gladwin Lambert/Amber Bradshaw
09 Geovanni Hayward/Sivaja Perinchief
12 Gregory Wade/Geno Smith
15 Quinton Simons/Zane Hendrickson
19 Lorenzo Lambert/Shane Morrisey
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Thursday, May 14, 2026
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Bermuda to Join Global Armada for Sail Boston 2026
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The horizon of Boston Harbor is set to be transformed this summer as dozens of majestic vessels, including the iconic Spirit of Bermuda, converge for Sail Boston 2026.
Organizers have confirmed that flagships representing 18 allied nations from across the globe are currently making their way toward the Massachusetts coast. The gathering promises to be one of the most significant maritime spectacles in recent years, drawing international crews and spectators to the historic waterfront.
The event serves as a focal point for the Sail250 Regatta, an expansive global gathering of tall ships and military vessels. Boston marks the fifth port of call for the regatta, which has been organized to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States.
For the Spirit of Bermuda, the triple-masted sloop that serves as a floating classroom and a symbol of the island’s maritime heritage, the journey offers a chance to fly the Bermuda flag alongside some of the world's most storied naval and civilian ships.
The festivities are scheduled to begin in earnest on July 11th with the Meet Boston Parade of Sail. This grand procession will see the fleet navigate the harbor in a formation designed to showcase the scale and elegance of traditional sailing technology.
Tall ship celebrations have become a cherished tradition in Massachusetts, dating back to the nation’s Bicentennial in 1976. Since that inaugural gathering, the ships have returned to Boston in 1992, 2000, 2009, and 2017, with each edition growing in international participation and public interest.
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Wednesday, May 13, 2026
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Fourth Consecutive Victory for Wednesday Night Leaders
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Airforce has extended its dominant streak in the Wednesday Night Sailing series, securing a fourth consecutive victory with a clinical performance on Race Day Five.
The crew of Airforce set the pace from the outset, becoming the first boat to cross the line with a sharp elapsed time of 59:50. Even after the handicaps were applied, their corrected time of 56:37 proved untouchable, keeping them firmly at the summit of the leaderboard.
The battle for the remaining podium spots was a closely fought affair between Scatteraction and Passion. Scatteraction was the second vessel to complete the course, clocking an elapsed time of 1:00:40. Their corrected time of 57:25 was enough to secure the runner-up spot for the evening.
Passion followed closely behind, crossing the line third in 1:00:54. A corrected time of 57:38 ensured they rounded out the top three, narrowly missing out on the second spot in a tactical night on the water.
The depth of the fleet was on full display as the mid-table contenders pushed for position. Menace claimed fourth place with a corrected time of 58:31, while Tiburon produced a steady performance to round out the top five finishers with a corrected time of 59:15.
Wednesday Night Sailing Series Race Day 5
0:56:37 Airforce
0:57:25 Scatteraction
0:57:38 Passion
0:58:31 Menace
0:59:15 Tiburon
0:59:18 RS 21 4 REID
0:59:34 Fat Tuesday
1:00:30 RS 21 6 SAVAGE
1:00:54 Peppercorn
1:01:07 Lorato Makato
1:02:19 RS 21 2 REDBURN
1:02:51 RS 21 3 LEACH
1:03:15 Back in Black
1:03:21 RS 21 1 NEAME
1:04:38 Jitterbug
1:05:45 Lix
1:05:53 Shogun
1:08:09 RS 21 5 FRANK
DNF Stormy
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Wednesday, May 13, 2026
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Swan 75 Dominates Light-Air Antigua Bermuda Race
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Howie Hodgson’s Swan 75, True, has claimed a clean sweep of the major honors in the 2026 Antigua Bermuda Race, navigating a tactically bruising 935-mile course that left nearly half the fleet stranded at sea.
In what will be remembered as one of the most unpredictable editions of the longest offshore race in the Western Atlantic, True secured line honors, the prestigious Warrior Trophy for first under IRC, and first place under CSA.
The race was defined by an unusual weather pattern that defied traditional expectations. The legendary strong tradewinds were absent at the start, replaced by a tentative 10-knot breeze that persisted for the opening days.
While the leaders eventually punched through a front—encountering 20-30 knot squalls that propelled them toward the finish—those further back were not so fortunate. A lack of pressure left the trailing pack "parked" in light air. The consequences were stark: of the seven starters, three failed to make the eight-day time limit. In a cruel twist of fate, the yacht Rock n' Roll was just eight miles from the finish line when the clock finally ran out.
Despite the disparity in size, the battle at the front was remarkably tight. True found itself shadowed for much of the journey by Michael Hennessy’s scow-bow Class40, Scowling Dragon. Despite their vastly different waterlines, the two boats were almost equally rated under the CSA system.
Hennessy, whose Scowling Dragon took second place and the trophy for the first double-handed boat, reflected on the narrow margins of the 935-mile trek. He noted that had the conditions offered just a few more hours of fast reaching, the Class40 might have bridged the 20-mile gap to the Swan 75.
With the fleet now safely in Hamilton, the focus shifts to the post-race celebrations, though for those who missed the cut by mere miles, the 2026 edition will likely be remembered for what might have been.
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