Bacardi Moth Bermuda National Championship day 1

Paul Goodison wins all three races on day 1 of the Bacardi Bermuda Moth National Championship © Beau Outteridge / www.beauoutteridge.com

Racing for the Bacardi Moth Bermuda National Championship got underway on Friday with overseas visitors stealing the limelight from the locals.

British sailor Paul Goodison won all three races contested today, each by a large margin. He holds a 7-point lead over fellow British sailor Ben Paton, who is 4 points ahead of Australian Matthew Chew in third place.

Sailing in a building southwesterly breeze that started at 10 knots and gusted up to 30 knots as a squall came through at the conclusion of Race 3, everyone enjoyed the day on the water.

"The conditions were amazing today," said Paton, a past coach for host Royal Bermuda Yacht Club. "I'm pretty happy with the day. I have to make a few changes to try and match Goodison's speed, but I think it all looks promising for next week."

A squall tears across Great Sound as Germany's Philip Buhl (left), Italy's Francesco Bruni and Brooks Reed of the U.S. sail upwind on day 1 of the Bacardi Bermuda Moth National Championship - photo © Beau Outteridge / www.beauoutteridge.com

The Bacardi Moth World Championship officially begins on Monday. Racing this weekend is for the Bacardi Bermuda Moth National Championship and includes 34 of the 46 sailors entered in the Worlds.

The Bermuda Moth Class Association President James Doughty is mixing it up with rivals Nathan Bailey, Josh Greenslade and Benn Smith who, at 18 years old, is the youngest entrant in the fleet. Greenslade has 73 points, Doughty 74 points, Smith 85 points and Bailey, who sailed just the third race, 90 points.

Bermuda's Benn Smith, the youngest sailor in the Bacardi Bermuda Moth National Championship, works his boat on Great Sou - photo © Beau Outteridge / www.beauoutteridge.com

"We're having great racing amongst each other within the larger fleet. We're constantly swapping places whether we're sailing upwind or downwind," said Doughty, who finished either just ahead or just behind Greenslade. "The conditions for the first two races were beautiful. Really nice sailing for a light guy like me."

Although the Bermuda Nationals is an open regatta, the title of Bermuda National Champion will go to one of the Bermudians. Racing is scheduled to conclude on Saturday.

The Moth World Championship and Bermuda Nationals are made possible with the support of title sponsor Bacardi Limited, the largest privately held spirits company in the world that produces and markets internationally recognized spirits and wines. The Bacardi brand portfolio comprises more than 200 brands and labels, including BACARDÍ® rum, GREY GOOSE® vodka, DEWAR'S® Blended Scotch whisky, BOMBAY SAPPHIRE® gin, MARTINI® vermouth and sparkling wines, CAZADORES® 100% blue agave tequila, and other leading and emerging brands including WILLIAM LAWSON'S® Blended Scotch whisky, ERISTOFF® vodka, and ST-GERMAIN® elderflower liqueur.

Founded nearly 156 years ago, in Santiago de Cuba on February 4, 1862, family-owned Bacardi currently employs approximately 5,500, operates more than 20 production facilities, including bottling, distilling and manufacturing sites, and sells its brands in more than 170 countries.

The BACARDÍ® brand is part of the portfolio of Bacardi Limited, headquartered in Hamilton, Bermuda. Bacardi Limited refers to the Bacardi group of companies, including Bacardi International Limited.

Standings after Day 1: (top ten, 3 races)

1. Paul Goodison (U.K.) 1-1-1 – 3pts
2. Ben Paton (U.K.) 2-2-6 – 10pts
3. Matthew Chew (AUS) 6-5-3 – 14pts
4. Rome Kirby (USA) 3-3-10 – 16pts
5. Simon Hiscocks (U.K.) 7-8-2 – 17pts
23. Joshua Greenslade (BER) 26-24-23 – 73pts
24. James Doughty (BER) 25-25-24 – 74pts
27. Benn Smith (BER) 27-23-DNF (35) – 85pts
29. Nathan Bailey (BER) DNC (35)-DNC (35)-20 – 90pts