The 2026 Cayman Islands Sailing Club Easter Regatta provided a weekend of classic offshore racing and intense competition as cruising yachts navigated the waters around Grand Cayman.
The event kicked off on Good Friday, 3 April, with the Round the Island Race.
A fleet of 12 cruising yachts set off from the North Sound at 7am, utilising staggered start times based on their performance expectations.
“Conditions on North Side quickly tested crews, with rough seas and a 20mph easterly headwind. The Cayman Islands Coast Guard escorted the fleet around the North Side and East End, as they have done in previous years, providing safety coverage throughout the race,” said the Cayman Islands Sailing club.
Despite the weather conditions, the sailing club said that “racing was fast and competitive”.
“Commodore Mike Farrington, aboard Mirikama, led the fleet around East End and extended his advantage along the South Coast, where boats enjoyed downwind sailing and some of their fastest speeds of the day,” said the club.
Finishing first overall at Sunset House was Mirikama, followed by Java Light, skippered by David Carmichael, with Eduardo Bernal’s Calypso claiming third.
The excitement continued on Saturday during the Back to the Sound Race, which covered a distance of 12.3 nautical miles in a steady 17-knot easterly breeze.
The race culminated in a dramatic photo finish that saw Mirikama narrowly secure a second victory on corrected time.
Farrington’s crew managed to defeat Bruce Johnson’s Blue Runner by a mere seven seconds, while Calypso once again rounded out the top three.
Rojax and PowerPlay also maintained strong positions in the standings, finishing fourth and fifth in the corrected time rankings.
Reflecting on the success of the weekend, commodore Farrington said, “It’s great to see so many boats participating in the Easter Regatta – good competition and fair sailing. Thank you to all our sponsors and volunteers, and especially to my wonderful crew. I particularly enjoyed the film reviews coming from the rail while beating our way to East End.”
The festivities will conclude with an official prize-giving ceremony at the Cayman Islands Sailing Club clubhouse at 7pm on Friday, 10 April, where all members and supporters are welcome to attend.
Those interested in more details regarding future events can reach the club at [email protected]. For race replays and full results, click here.
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