Ireland's Peter O'Leary and crew Joost Houweling made a strong start to the 2026 Star World Championship in Miami, finishing seventh in the opening race of the 95-boat fleet on Biscayne Bay on Monday, November 9th.
The Irish entry, sailing under IRL 8465, finished just six places behind race winners Leandro and Lucas Altolaguirre of Argentina, who claimed the first victory of the six-race championship.
Two other Irish entries were also competing, with Anthony O'Leary and Phil Toth finishing 33rd aboard IRL 8565, while Robert O'Leary and Steyn van Driessel placed 36th aboard IRL 8348.
The three Irish boats are among 95 entries representing 17 nations at the championship, hosted by Coral Reef Yacht Club in Miami.
Championship Charge: Close racing on Biscayne Bay as the 2026 Star World Championship gets underway, with Peter O'Leary leading the three-boat Irish challenge after finishing seventh in the opening race. Photo: Matias Capizzano
Argentine Brothers Win Opening Race
The Altolaguirre brothers secured the opening-race victory after more than two hours of close tactical competition in light, shifting conditions.
Racing began at noon in a northeasterly breeze of approximately seven knots, which gradually shifted left and strengthened to around 10 knots. The fleet sailed the traditional Star championship long-course format, with 2.4-nautical-mile legs.
Former World Champion Eric Doyle of the United States, sailing with Payson Infelise, led around the first windward mark, ahead of Italy's Diego Negri and Sergio Lambertenghi.
Negri briefly took the lead at the leeward gate before the Argentine brothers, who had rounded the first mark fourth, worked their way into contention.
Leandro and Lucas Altolaguirre moved ahead on the second upwind leg and maintained their advantage to the finish, with Doyle and Infelise second and Negri and Lambertenghi third.
Lucas Altolaguirre said the victory was particularly satisfying, coming in his first race back at a World Championship since winning the final race of the 2024 event in San Diego.
Argentine Triumph: Leandro and Lucas Altolaguirre sail to victory in the opening race of the 2026 Star World Championship in Miami, ahead of former world champions Eric Doyle and Diego Negri, as Ireland's Peter O'Leary finishes seventh. Photo: Matias Capizzano
Former Champions Face Mixed Fortunes
Several leading contenders experienced difficult starts to the championship.
Defending World Champions Paul Cayard and Frithjof Kleen recovered to finish ninth, while Brazil's Robert Scheidt and American crew Austin Sperry placed 15th. Poland's Mateusz Kusznierewicz and Brazilian Bruno Prada finished 40th.
O'Leary's seventh-place result puts the leading Irish boat ahead of all three of those established championship contenders after the opening race.
With one race completed, the championship remains wide open. The traditional format schedules one long race per day, with a discard available after five races. Racing is scheduled to continue on Tuesday, November 10th, with the second race on Biscayne Bay.
