Three members of Cork's O'Leary sailing family — Anthony and his sons Peter and Robert — are entered for the 2026 Star World Championship in Miami, where 97 teams from 17 nations are preparing for six races on Biscayne Bay from 9 to 14 November.
The official entry list names Robert O'Leary with Fionn Lyden in IRL 8118, Anthony O'Leary with Phil Toth in IRL 8348, and Irish Olympian Peter O'Leary with Joost Houweling in IRL 8465.
It is another substantial family showing in Miami following their three-boat entry for the Bacardi Cup in March. Peter and Houweling went on to finish sixth overall at the 99th Bacardi Cup, a result that offers encouragement ahead of the World Championship on the same waters.
World Champions Head Strong International Fleet
Defending champions Paul Cayard (USA) and Frithjof Kleen (GER) return after winning the world title in 2025 and the Bacardi Cup earlier this year. They will face a strong challenge from Brazil's five-time Olympic medallist Robert Scheidt and American Austin Sperry, who won the 2026 Star European Championship in Medemblik and finished runners-up at the Bacardi Cup.
Title Defence: Reigning Star World Champions Paul Cayard (left) and Frithjof Kleen return to Miami seeking back-to-back world titles, having already claimed victory in the 2026 Bacardi Cup on Biscayne Bay. Photo: Martina Orsini
Other leading contenders include Poland's Olympic gold medallist Mateusz Kusznierewicz with Brazil's Bruno Prada, Italy's two-time world champions Diego Negri and Sergio Lambertenghi, and Germany's Max Kohlhoff and Ole Burzinski.
Germany's Nick Heuwinkel and Jesper Spehr, runners-up at the European Championship and winners of the under-30 title, represent the younger generation challenging the established stars. Eivind Melleby and Christian Nehammer, George Szabo and Guy Avellon, Eric Doyle and Payson Infelise, and Jack Jennings and Pedro Trouche add further depth to the field.
Six Races Scheduled on Biscayne Bay
Hosted by Coral Reef Yacht Club, the event opens with registration, inspections and team weigh-ins on Thursday, 5 November. A practice race is scheduled for Sunday, 8 November, with the first championship warning signal at 12.55 pm local time on Monday, 9 November.
One championship race is scheduled each day through Saturday, 14 November, making consistency particularly important in the large international fleet.
Founded in 1911, the Star was an Olympic class from 1932 to 2012 and remains one of international sailing's most competitive keelboat classes.
