Star class Vintage Gold Cup 2026 at Gull Lake Yacht Club, Michigan - Overall
by ISCYRA 4 Oct 18:01 BST
30 September - 3 October 2026
The 2026 Vintage Gold Cup came to a close after eight races, with Jack Jennings and Arthur Lopes claiming the laurel wreath following a superb week of consistent racing in the classic wooden Star fleet. It represent a back-to-back win for the American skipper.
The final day began with a solid southerly breeze of 8-12 mph. The Race Committee set a 1.2-nautical-mile course, and the fleet got away cleanly for Race 7 with the championship still to be decided.
Jennings and Lopes wasted no time asserting themselves. They jumped out to an early lead and masterfully connected the puffs and shifts across the lake, gradually building an advantage over their closest rivals.
Behind them, Vintage Gold Cup veterans Arthur Anosov and Andriy Shafranyuk mounted the strongest challenge, with Swedish Star legends Leif Carlson and Thomas Karlsson close behind. The three teams separated themselves from the rest of the fleet and held their positions to the finish, with Jennings and Lopes taking the bullet ahead of Anosov and Shafranyuk, and Carlson and Karlsson in third.
The victory was enough to mathematically secure the 2026 Vintage Gold Cup for Jennings and Lopes with one race still remaining. Their work complete, the new champions headed ashore early to begin the celebrations.
There was still plenty at stake behind them, however, with the remaining podium positions yet to be decided. The Race Committee quickly reorganized the fleet and started the eighth and final race, but by then the conditions had changed considerably.
The breeze began to fade, leaving the sailors to search for increasingly fickle patches of pressure across the lake. In the challenging conditions, Ross MacDonald and George Iverson produced a masterclass, brilliantly connecting the dots to take a convincing final-race victory.
Nick Madigan and Mark Strube, sailing Pink Lady, finished second, while Jim Buckingham and Brad Nichol aboard Ferrari completed the Race 8 podium in third, a result that also helped secure their place on the overall championship podium.
After eight races and three days showcasing both the beauty of the vintage wooden Stars and the depth of talent within the fleet, Jack Jennings and Arthur Lopes emerged as deserving champions. Ben Mitchell and Brian Terhaar finished second overall after remaining in contention throughout the regatta, while Jim Buckingham and Brad Nichol completed the podium in third.
MacDonald and Iverson's final-race victory moved them into fourth overall, with Josh Powell and George Szabo completing the top five.
2026 Vintage Gold Cup - Final top 5
1. Jack Jennings / Arthur Lopes
2. Ben Mitchell / Brian Terhaar
3. Jim Buckingham / Brad Nichol
4. Ross MacDonald / George Iverson
5. Josh Powell / George Szabo
With eight races completed, the 2026 Vintage Gold Cup concluded with a star-studded podium, close racing across a wide range of conditions and another collection of memorable moments celebrating the history, competition and camaraderie of the Star Class.