Newport Harbor Sailing Foundation: Sailor Stories
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Adam Bradley at the Bacardi Cup
Our Bacardi Cup began on the West Coast. Chas and I set off on a four-day road trip spanning 2,600 miles from Newport Harbour Yacht Club to Coral Reef Yacht Club in Miami, star boat in tow. On the first night of the trip, we found ourselves cruising through El Paso, Texas. The next night, we spent time in New Orleans, Louisiana, followed by Gainesville, Florida.
As racing started Monday, we launched our boat, put the sails up, and started sailing out to the bay. Suddenly, our jib halyard went loose. We discovered the soft shackle had failed and skied the halyard. As we sailed back in, we brainstormed ideas of getting it down without dropping the mast. Chas decided he would try to climb the rig. A few tense minutes later, Chas fixed the halyard, and we were back on the water, not missing a race.
On Tuesday and Wednesday mornings (days 2 and 3 of the regatta), the AP flag was flown for an hour, forcing us to wait onshore for the breeze to fill. Both days were challenging for us due to the shifty conditions. Our biggest challenge was getting off the start cleanly with more boats than we were used to.
Midweek, we attended another round table to hear how the race leaders adapted to the conditions and what they were focusing on. As we left the discussion, a new kind of motivation set in.
Thursday provided the most exciting day of sailing. Multiple squalls rolled in during the races. Downpours and wind gusts tested our underweight combo, but the fleet didn’t make it any easier for us to climb back after a difficult start.
Friday was another light, fluky day that paid heavily if you gybed at the top mark.
By Saturday, the final race day, Biscayne Bay delivered the conditions we came for. We got a 10 - 15 knot breeze with more significant gusts. On the last run of this day, the breeze changed, and the boat started moving the way we wanted. It was the most exhilarating leg of the regatta and an incredible way to end the event.
Ultimately, after six days of races, we ended up below the fold in the 66-boat fleet at 41st.
We would like to thank the Newport Harbor Sailing Foundation for its support, which made this event possible.
2024 Bacardi Cup
Miami, FL