2025 South American Championship at Iate Clube do Rio de Janeiro – Day 1
by ISCYRA 4 Dec 2025 16:14 PST
December 3-7, 2025
The 2025 Star South American Championship officially launched today in the vibrant waters of Rio de Janeiro, attracting 14 entries, predominantly from Brazil, Argentina, and the USA. The competition runs until Saturday, December 6th, showcasing the skills of some of the world's most accomplished sailors.
Local legends Robert Scheidt and Bruno Prada, both Brazilian sailing icons with a legacy of Olympic medals and World Championship titles, have returned to compete, although not sailing together this time. Joining the competition are reigning world champions Class President Paul Cayard from the USA and Frithjof Kleen from Germany, sailing with Bruno Prada and Robert Scheidt, respectively.
Results after Day 1:
1. Leandro Altolaguirre / Lucas Altolaguirre (ARG) - 3, 2, 1 (Total: 6)
2. Robert Scheidt / Frithjof Kleen (BRA/GER) - 3, 1, 2 (Total: 6)
3. Daniel Glomb / Pedro Trouche (BRA) - 8, 5, 3 (Total: 16)
4. John King / Fernando Ilha (USA/BRA) - 9, 4, 5 (Total: 18)
5. Paul Cayard / Bruno Prada (USA/BRA) - 10, 3, 7 (Total: 20)
The day proved to be both competitive and thrilling. Competitors faced strong breezes ranging from 20 to 24 knots, coming from the south/southwest, creating challenging choppy conditions on the water. The gusty winds, influenced by the urban landscape, added an additional layer of complexity to the races. The Altolaguirre brothers secured the provisional top position, tying with Robert Scheidt and Frithjof Kleen but winning on a count-back.
Lucas Altolaguirre commented, "Today was a perfect day with winds ranging from 15 to over 20 knots, sunny skies, and a temperature of 27 degrees. We are thrilled to have finished second in the first race and first in the second. More importantly, it feels amazing to compete alongside some of the heroes of our sport and our class".
Frithjof Kleen said, "What a fantastic Day One of the Championship here in Rio, one of my favorite places in the world. I have great memories from the 2010 World Championship held here. Today, we scored a first and a second place, although we had a rough downwind in the second race that cost us some distance. We need to work on that. Robert kept me busy with 25 tacks upwind, so it was quite a workout—he always gives his all! It was great fun sailing with Robert. Congratulations to the Argentinians on a strong Day One".
The championship promises three more days of intense sailing as teams prepare to battle for the title. With seasoned veterans and emerging talents on the water, in one of the Star Class most loved venues.
Full results, photo and video galleries available at sa.starchampionships.org.