Americas Affiliates tournament: Caymans and Bahamas qualify for Americas Cup

The Cayman Islands and the Bahamas will compete in the Americas Cup in Buenos Aires, Argentina next year after finishing first and second at the recent Americas Affiliates tournament in Jamaica.

Caymans and Bahamas will assume the two places allocated to Affiliate members, along with Associate members Canada, the United States, Bermuda and Argentina in the second staging of the Americas regional tournament.

The Cayman Islands finished the four team round robin tournament undefeated, ahead of the Bahamas (two wins, one loss), Turks & Caicos Islands (one win, two losses) and Panama (three losses).

Exact details were unavailable, but it is understood Caymans won all of their matches comfortably, winning by eight wickets over the Bahamas and nine wickets against Turks & Caicos. Details of their win over Panama are unavailable at this stage.

Bahamas' victories were just as decisive, winning by 10 wickets against Panama after having their target reduced, before losing just three wickets in overtaking Turks & Caicos' 214 all-out. Turks & Caicos' margin of victory over Panama is also unknown at this stage.

The Americas' other Affiliate member Belize did not compete for financial reasons.

The inaugural Affiliates tournament was the first time the Bahamas and Turks & Caicos have competed in an international tournament of this kind. Panama had only previously played in the South American Championships, where eligibility rules did not apply.