The 2026 Star World Championship got underway Monday on Biscayne Bay, with Argentina’s Leandro and Lucas Altolaguirre claiming victory in the opening race after more than two hours of close and tactical competition.
The Altolaguirres did not feature among the early leaders, which included Eric Doyle and Payson Infelise (USA), leading followed by Diego Negri and Sergio Lambertenghi (ITA), with Jorge Zarif and Arthur Lopes (BRA) in third at the first mark.
By the second windward mark, Leandro and Lucas Altolaguirre had taken control of the race, ahead of Doyle and Infelise, with Negri and Lambertenghi in third. The three teams maintained those positions to the finish, giving the Argentine brothers the first victory of the championship.
It was a more challenging opening day for several of the pre-event favorites.
Defending World Champions Paul Cayard USA and Frithjof Kleen finished 9th, Robert Scheidt BRA and Austin Sperry 15th, and Mateusz Kusznierewicz POL and Bruno Prada 40th, all struggled with their starts and the opening upwind leg.
Britain’s Ante Razmilovic and Brian Hammersley were 49th, and first of the Irish entries were Peter O’Leary and Joost Houweling in 7th.
The 2026 Star World Championship Presented by Schoonmaker at Coral Reef Yacht Club, 8–14 November.
2026 Star World Championship – Leaders
After 1 race (95 entries) 1 discard after 5 races
1st Leandro Altolaguirre / Lucas Altolaguirre (ARG)
2nd Eric Doyle / Payson Infelise (USA)
3rd Diego Negri / Sergio Lambertenghi (ITA)
4th Hubert Merkelbach / Markus Koy (GER)
5th Peter Bromby / Myles Pritchard (BER)
6th Will Stout / Danny Cayard (USA)
7th Peter O’Leary / Joost Houweling (IRL)
8th Jorge Zarif / Arthur Lopes (BRA)
9th Paul Cayard / Frithjof Kleen (USA)
10th Piet Eckert / Frederico Melo (SUI)