The 2026 Star World Championship kicked off on Biscayne Bay with Argentina’s Leandro and Lucas Altolaguirre claiming a thrilling victory in the opening race. Presented by Schoonmaker and hosted at Coral Reef Yacht Club in Miami, the championship’s first day delivered more than two hours of close, tactical racing that saw the Argentine brothers overcome three former World Champions to take the win.
The fleet launched at noon under a light northeasterly breeze of around seven knots. As the afternoon progressed, the wind gradually shifted left and built to approximately 10 knots, testing the competitors across the traditional long-course format featuring 2.4-nautical-mile legs.
Three former Star World Champions surged to the front early on. Eric Doyle of the USA, sailing with Payson Infelise, rounded the first windward mark in the lead. Italy’s Diego Negri and Sergio Lambertenghi sat in second, while Brazil’s Jorge Zarif and Arthur Lopes held third. Doyle and Infelise built a comfortable margin on the opening leg, but Negri and Lambertenghi clawed back on the first downwind, edging into a very slim lead at the leeward gate. The Altolaguirre brothers, meanwhile, had climbed from fourth to third, setting themselves up for a decisive push on the second upwind leg.
By the second windward mark, Leandro and Lucas Altolaguirre had seized control of the race, moving ahead of Doyle and Infelise, with Negri and Lambertenghi slotting into third. The three teams held those positions through to the finish, handing the Argentine brothers the first victory of the championship.
Speaking back at the Coral Reef Yacht Club, Lucas Altolaguirre reflected on the win. “We had a good start in clear air, which allowed us to stay with the leading group on the first upwind leg. We rounded the first mark in fourth and gradually worked our way forward. We were third going into the final downwind, where we had a great battle with the Italian team. On the last upwind, we managed to take the lead and hold it all the way to the finish. It feels fantastic to win this race, especially because it’s only my second race win at a Star World Championship. My first was in San Diego in 2024, in what was actually the last race I sailed at a Worlds before coming back here to Miami. So winning again in my very first race back makes it even more special.”
The opening day proved far more challenging for several pre-event favorites. Defending World Champions Paul Cayard of the USA and Frithjof Kleen of Germany struggled with their start and the opening upwind leg but staged an impressive recovery to finish ninth. Robert Scheidt of Brazil and Austin Sperry of the USA crossed the line in 15th, while Mateusz Kusznierewicz of Poland and Bruno Prada of Brazil finished 40th.
With just one race in the books, the championship is only beginning. The Star World Championship’s traditional format of one long race per day leaves ample room for the standings to shift, with consistency, endurance, and tactical decisions playing a crucial role across the six scheduled races. Racing continues on Tuesday, November 10, with another long-course race planned on Biscayne Bay.
