Bermudian sailors Paul Rodrigues Jr. and Jordan Vieira were instrumental this weekend as Eckerd College secured a superb second-place finish at the SAISA Top Six Fleet Race in Charleston.
Following the initial fleet racing stages, the competition shifted to team racing in FJs. The fleet faced challenging conditions, contending with outgoing tides and shifting winds between 5 and 7 knots. The Tritons’ elite lineup featured Jordan Vieira teaming up with Tia Soultanakis, while Paul Rodrigues Jr. partnered with Avery Guck, alongside the pairing of Peter Miller and Peyton Elizabeth Seidle.
Eckerd opened the round-robin portion in clinical form, dispatching Miami, North Carolina State, Jacksonville, and Florida State in quick succession. The Tritons’ only blemish during this stage came against the host school, the College of Charleston, resulting in a strong 5–1 record and a second-place standing heading into the critical top-four round.
In the final championship round, Eckerd maintained their composure to defeat both Jacksonville and Miami. Despite falling once more to a dominant College of Charleston side, the Tritons concluded the high-stakes event with a highly impressive 6–2 overall record to secure the runner-up spot. The result marks another significant milestone for the Bermudian pair as they continue to establish themselves as key figures in the Eckerd College sailing programme.
