O'Leary Sailors to Compete at Star Worlds
Three members of the O'Leary family from Cork will race in the 2026 Star World Championship on Biscayne Bay in Miami.
Updated on Nov. 2, 2026 in Swimming
Three O'Leary family sailors have entered the 2026 Star World Championship in Miami, which features 97 teams from 17 nations competing in six races on Biscayne Bay. Racing begins Monday, 9 November, with the final scheduled championship race on Saturday, 14 November.
Why it matters
The championship draws a large international field, and the O'Leary entries follow a strong recent showing at the Bacardi Cup, where Peter O'Leary and Joost Houweling finished sixth overall. The event highlights the depth of competition in the Star class, which has a long competitive history.
Peter O'Leary and Joost Houweling finished sixth overall at the 99th Bacardi Cup, while Paul Cayard and Frithjof Kleen won both the 2025 Star World Championship and the 2026 Bacardi Cup. Final placings at the 2026 World Championship have not yet been determined.
The players
Peter O'Leary
Peter O'Leary is an Irish Star class sailor from the Cork area who finished sixth overall at the 99th Bacardi Cup alongside Joost Houweling.
Coral Reef Yacht Club
Coral Reef Yacht Club is a Miami yacht club that hosts the Star World Championship and has a long history of hosting major sailing events.
The details
Robert O'Leary is sailing with Fionn Lyden, Anthony O'Leary with Phil Toth, and Peter O'Leary with Joost Houweling. Registration, inspections and team weigh-ins take place Thursday, 5 November, at the host Coral Reef Yacht Club.
Timeline
Thursday, 5 November 2026: registration, inspections and team weigh-ins begin
Sunday, 8 November 2026: practice race
Monday, 9 November 2026, 12:55 pm: first championship warning signal
9 to 14 November 2026: six championship races on Biscayne Bay
Saturday, 14 November 2026: final scheduled championship race
Season Trajectory
The Star class, founded in 1911 and an Olympic class from 1932 to 2012, remains a benchmark for elite two-person keelboat racing. This year's World Championship extends that competitive tradition after the class left the Olympic program.
Fans following the event can track the six scheduled races on Biscayne Bay between 9 and 14 November, with the first warning signal at 12:55 pm on Monday. Standings will shift across the week, so the final placings will be decided only after the last scheduled race on Saturday.
The takeaway
Racing in the Star class rewards consistency across six races, so a strong start in the early days can shape the final standings. Readers following the regatta should watch the daily results as the event unfolds.
What happens next
The first championship warning signal is scheduled for Monday, 9 November 2026 at 12:55 pm, with six races on Biscayne Bay through Saturday, 14 November.
Further reading
For more on the sport, explore Swimming coverage across the region.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Ireland Afloat.
