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Eight stars rise to Gold Cup quarters, Seven are World Match Racing Tour regulars

www.bermudagoldcup.com @ Fri Oct 10 10:04:00 +0100 2008

Hamilton, Bermuda. 9 October 2008:– After the seventh and last flight of the Round Robin, six of eight teams have qualified today to advance to the Quarter-final round in the King Edward VII Gold Cup presented by Argo Group, with a five-flight Repechage round amongst six teams also determining the final two slots. Among these are two undefeated teams from the UK, reigning World Champion Ian Williams and his Team Pindaralong with Olympic Gold Medalist Ben Ainslie and his Team Origin. These two will meet, respectively, Mattias Rahm (SWE) and his Stena Bulk Sailing Team and Tour newcomer Keith Swinton (AUS) of Black Swan Racing when sailing resumes tomorrow morning.

Other teams qualified from the Round Robin include Mathieu Richard and his French Match Racing Team/Team French Spirit, Johnie Berntsson (SWE), Sebastian Col and his French Match Racing Team/K Challenge, and on count back, Adam Minoprio (NZL) Emirates Team New Zealand/BlackMatch Racing Team. Racing today was once again in ideal 6-12 knot conditions in Hamilton harbor.

Despite the top-two qualifying positions of their rivals, Rahm and Swinton may have an initial advantage coming into this first-to-three point series for having had to battle an additional five flights of racing in the Repechage round.

“We definitely feel the extra competition has helped hone our skills coming into tomorrow,” said Rahm, though rival Williams jokingly pointed out that while Rahm may have won every match today, he lost every match yesterday, “so I wonder which Rahm we’ll face tomorrow?” Williams then remarked “No, I think he will bring their A game, so it will likely be a tough fight.”

Ironically, it was against fellow qualifier Swinton that Rahm had one of his tougher matches in the Repechage. During their initial pre-start encounter, Rahm hesitated just a little too long on port tack to avoid Swinton, and the two collided, earning Rahm a penalty from match umpires Brad Dellenbaugh (USA) and Bob Duffy (BER). Rahm went on to get off the start without further incident and extend to enough of a lead to peel off his penalty and take the match. But a post-race hearing to determine fault due to the damage caused to the International One Designs (IOD’s ) used for this event determined partial blame to go to Swinton as well as Rahm, with the unusual outcome of Rahm being assessed a ¼ point scoring penalty and Swinton a ½ point penalty.

“It definitely was confusing to us,” said Swinton, “but it makes sense after we went through the hearing.” A Perth native and late entry to the Gold Cup, Swinton is making his first appearance at a Tour event and by qualifying for the quarter finals is certainly turning a few heads.

Williams:- “King Edward VII Gold Cup is special for match race sailors”

At 101 years old, the King Edward VII Gold Cup is something of a holy grail for match racers, and Ian Williams, who has been racing at the Gold Cup since 1998 and was crowned champion in 2006, faces a number of hungry, young competitors looking for a chance to win it all. While Ainslie has been an Olympic medalist since the age of 19, he has yet to best the field here at the King Edward VII Gold Cup.

“The King Edward VII Gold Cup is special for match race sailors, and winning it in 2006 certainly gave a lot of momentum to my career,” Williams said. “It is a very special event and one of the ones we all look forward to on this World Match Racing Tour.”

Defending champion of the King Edward VII Gold Cup Mathieu Richard of France (6-1) will have his work cut out for him tomorrow as the quarter final match leaves little room for error.

‘We are very happy with the victory and we have to sail our very best tomorrow if we are to get to the semi-finals,” Richard said.

While a number of top American sailors were invited to the King Edward VII Gold Cup including veteran racer David Perry, Olympian Sally Barlow, Etchells World champion Bill Hardesty and veteran match racer Brian Angel, none of the American sailors made it to the quarter finals.

‘The Gold Cup is where a match racing sailor cuts their teeth. You get addicted to match racing and the spectators and the sponsors and the people here that make it such a great event for amateurs and professionals,” said Hardesty.

For first-time match racing sailor Don Wilson from Chicago, it is his hope to build match racing in the United States and help American sailors stay competitive with their European counterparts.

“The US sailors don’t all have the opportunities to match race professionally but this is such a great venue and it is so exciting to be here.” Wilson said. “We could be doing a lot more of it in the United States. It seems telling that all of our American teams were eliminated early.”

For American sailor David Perry, the end of the road for him at the King Edward VII Gold Cup is not necessarily the end of his commitment to match racing.

“Sailing here is no longer for sailors, it is for athletes,” he said. “Match racing puts a huge demand on the team and it is a great challenge sailing against people who are at the pinnacle of this sport.”

American and Olympic Yngling Sailor Sally Barkow, was beaten by Briton Ben Ainslie today. As the only female invited to participate in the King Edward VII Gold Cup, it showed her that the depth of talent is difficult to find in women’s match racing circuits.

“This kind of racing makes tough going and we are fortunate to come here and get the valuable experience among these men,” she said. “We learn valuable lessons and the field of talent is very deep. There is no room for mistakes here.”

After three days of racing at the 2008 King Edward VII Gold Cup presented by Argo Group in Hamilton harbor, the field is narrowing as sailors vie for the coveted honor of becoming the king of this great match-up. With the frontrunners going into the quarter-finals tomorrow primarily from England, France and Sweden, current World Champion Ian Williams from the UK (7-0) and 2008 Olympic Gold Medalist in the Finn Class Ben Ainslie (7-0) of the UK are topping the scoreboard.

Results after Two Stages:
QUARTER FINALISTS
Ben Ainslie (GBR) V Keith Swinton (AUS)
Ian Williams (GBR) V Mattias Rahm (SWE)
Sebastien Col (FRA) V Adam Minoprio (NZL)
Mathieu Richard (FRA) V Johnie Berntsson (SWE)

REPECHAGE
Mattias Rahm (SWE) Stena Bulk Sailing Team, 5-0
Keith Swinton (AUS) Black Swan Racing, 4-1
Eric Monnin (SUI) Search.ch, 3-5
Andrew Horten (USA), 2-5

GROUP 1
Ben Ainslie (GBR) Team Origin, 7-0
Mathieu Richard (FRA) French Match Racing Team/Team French Spirit, 6-1
Damien Iehl (FRA) French Match Racing Team, 5-2
Mattias Rahm (SWE) Stena Bulk Sailing Team, 4-3
Chris Van Tol (USA) Van Tol Match Racing Team, 1-6
Takumi Nakamura (JPN) Team Albatross, 2-5
Brian Angel (USA) King Harbour Yacht Club, 2-5
Sally Barkow (USA) Team 7 Racing, 1-6

GROUP 2
Ian Williams (GBR) Team Pindar, 7-0
Adam Minoprio (NZL) Emirates Team New Zealand/BlackMatch Racing Team, 5-2
Keith Swinton (USA) Black Swan Racing, 3-4
Andrew Horten (USA), 5-2
Rasmus Viltoft (DEN), 3-4
Bjorn Hansen (SWE) Alandia Sailing Team, 2-5
Erik Koppernaes (CAN), 1-6
Jon Singsen (USA), 1-6

GROUP 3
Johnie Berntsson (SWE) Berntsson Sailing Team, 6-1
Sebastien Col (FRA) French Match Racing Team/K Challenge, 5-2
Torvar Mirsky (AUS) Mirsky Racing Team, 3-4
Donald Wilson (USA), 4-3
David Perry (USA), 3-4
Pierre Antoine Morvan (FRA) ETM Match Racing, 2-5
Eric Monnin (SUI) Search.ch, 3-4
Blythe Walker (BDA), 2-5


Current World Match Racing Tour Leaderboard (top eight teams)
1. Ian Williams (GBR) Team Pindar, 98 points
2. Sebastien Col (FRA) French Match Racing Team/K-Challenge, 92
3. Mathieu Richard (FRA) French Match Racing Team/ French Team Spirit, 87
4. Torvar Mirsky (AUS) Mirsky Racing Team , 53
5. Magnus Holmberg (SWE) Victory Challenge, 51
6. Paolo Cian (ITA) Team Shosholoza, 43
7. Bjorn Hansen (SWE) Alandia Sailing Team, 40
8. Mattias Rahm (SWE) Stena Bulk Sailing Team, 34

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BRITS AND SWEDES LEAD THE CHARGE TOWARDS QUARTER-FINALS

www.bermudagoldcup.com @ Thu Oct 09 09:45:00 +0100 2008

Hamilton, Bermuda. 8 October 2008: – With only one match remaining in the Round Robin, Ben Ainslie’s (GBR) Team Origin, Ian Williams’ (GBR) Team Pindar, and Johnie Berntsson’s (SWE) Berntsson Sailing Teamare the only three teams of 24 which have definitely qualified for the next Quarter-Final stage at the King Edward VII Gold Cup presented by Argo Group.

The two top teams from each group move on to the Quarter finals and the third and fourth place finishers in each group sail off in a “Repechage” round robin on Thursday afternoon for their second chance to win one of the last two Quarter final slots. Following the Quarter-finals on Friday, winners move into the Semi-Finals on Saturday and the top two go to the Finals on Sunday. There is a $100,000 prize purse with $50,000 going to the winner, $20,000 for second and $10,000 for third. Fourth through eighth divide the remainder.

Among those in contention are the three French teams – Mathieu Richard’s French Match Racing Team/Team French Spirit, Sebastien Col’s French Match Racing Team/K Challenge, and Damien Iehl’s French Match Racing Team – as well as Andrew Horton (USA), Keith Swinton (AUS), and Adam Minoprio (NZL) and hisEmirates Team New Zealand/BlackMatch Racing Team. And if they win in their final matches, other contenders in the Repechage include Torvar Mirsky (AUS) and his Mirsky Racing Team, David Perry (USA), and Mattias Rahm (SWE) and his Stena Bulk Sailing Team.

Amongst the leaders, Ainslie’s record remained unblemished at 6-0 despite tough matches against Rahm and Brian Angel (USA). This is Ainslie’s first match racing event since his gold medal winning Olympic campaign, yet he has clearly been on point in Group 1 and sailing in excellent form.

“We sailed much of today like the fleet racers we are,” said Ainslie, “focusing on staying in phase in these shifty conditions.” The northeasterly breeze today was much abated from yesterday, down to 6-12 knots, but very shifty within the confines of Hamilton harbor, where all but the largest leads were safe from attack.

Also in Group 1, defending Gold Cup champion Mathieu Richard had a great day to earn a 5-1 score on three wins in three matches sailed, but will be pitted against his countryman Iehl on the same score to determine who will be runner-up to Ainslie to go through to the Quarters.

Williams’ Team Pindar, currently the top-ranked team on the World Match Racing Tour leaderboard, also had a perfect day and stands on top of Group 2 with a 5-0 score. He has a make-up match to sail against Horton after the last race of Flight 7 tomorrow, where, depending on the outcome of other matches and the inevitable tie-breaks, the outcome may decide who goes through to the Quarters and who must race again in the Repechage.

Meanwhile in Group 3, Berntsson is assured of going through, but runner-up Sebastian Col will have to win his match against Mirsky to also avoid having to qualify through the Repechage.

Current results, after six flights:
GROUP 1
Ben Ainslie (GBR) Team Origin, 6-0
Mathieu Richard (FRA) French Match Racing Team/Team French Spirit, 5-1
Damien Iehl (FRA) French Match Racing Team, 5-1
Mattias Rahm (SWE) Stena Bulk Sailing Team, 3-3
Chris Van Tol (USA) Van Tol Match Racing Team, 2-4
Takumi Nakamura (JPN) Team Albatross, 1-2
Brian Angel (USA) King Harbour Yacht Club, 1-5
Sally Barkow (USA) Team 7 Racing, 1-5

GROUP 2
Ian Williams (GBR) Team Pindar, 5-0
Adam Minoprio (NZL) Emirates Team New Zealand/BlackMatch Racing Team, 4-2
Keith Swinton (USA) Black Swan Racing, 4-2
Andrew Horten (USA), 4-1
Rasmus Viltoft (DEN), 3-3
Bjorn Hansen (SWE) Alandia Sailing Team, 2-4
Erik Koppernaes (CAN), 1-5
Jon Singsen (USA), 0-6

GROUP 3
Johnie Berntsson (SWE) Berntsson Sailing Team, 5-1
Sebastien Col (FRA) French Match Racing Team/K Challenge, 4-2
Torvar Mirsky (AUS) Mirsky Racing Team, 3-3
Donald Wilson (USA), 3-3
David Perry (USA), 3-3
Pierre Antoine Morvan (FRA) ETM Match Racing, 2-4
Eric Monnin (SUI) Search.ch, 2-4
Blythe Walker (BDA), 2-4

Current World Match Racing Tour Leaderboard (top eight teams):
1. Ian Williams (GBR) Team Pindar, 98 points
2. Sebastien Col (FRA) French Match Racing Team/K-Challenge, 92
3. Mathieu Richard (FRA) French Match Racing Team/ French Team Spirit, 87
4. Torvar Mirsky (AUS) Mirsky Racing Team, 53
5. Magnus Holmberg (SWE) Victory Challenge, 51
6. Paolo Cian (ITA) Team Shosholoza, 43
7. Bjorn Hansen (SWE) Alandia Sailing Team, 40
8. Mattias Rahm (SWE) Stena Bulk Sailing Team, 34

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Photo by Talbot Wilson

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BLUSTERY BREEZE GREETS THE FIELD IN DAY ONE OF THE BERMUDA GOLD CUP

www.bermudagoldcup.com @ Wed Oct 08 09:26:00 +0100 2008

Three-group, 24-team field complete three flights each in gear-busting conditions.

World Tour leaders emerge at the top of the standings.

Hamilton, Bermuda 8.10.08: – In conditions which featured blustery north breezes approaching 25 knots in strength, the action was fast and furious in Hamilton Harbour for the first day of Round Robin racing yesterday at the King Edward VII Gold Cup, presented by Argo Group. With 24 invited teams divided into three group of eight, this event has the largest field of competitors of any on the 2008 World Match Racing Tour, and after three flights of racing in each group, the regular Tour team are emerging towards the top of the standings.

Undefeated in his Group 1, Mattias Rahm (SWE) and his Stena Bulk Sailing Team have not appeared in a Tour event since their win at Stage 4, Match Cup Sweden in Marstrand. Rahm attributed his success on Monday to practice sessions he’s had with fellow Swede Johnie Berntsson in the traditional-style International One Designs (IOD’s) which are used in this event and to which they have access back home.

“These boats are very heavy, and turn slowly, so planning your moves is very important,” said Rahm. For his part, Berntsson, competing in Group 3, nearly had the same 3-0 record as Rahm but for one penalty turn performed on the finish line with just a few metres shy of what was needed to defeat local Bermudian Blythe Walker in the last flight of the day.

Current Tour leader Ian Williams (GBR) and his Team Pindar also had an undefeated day, but due to damage sustained on rival Andy Horton’s (USA) boat in Group 2, the pair’s match yesterday was postponed until today. So besides Berntsson and Williams, no less than six other teams who frequent the Tour – Sebastian Col and his French Match Racing Team/K-Challenge, Bjorn Hansen (SWE) and his Alandia Sailing Team, Adam Minoprio (NZL) and his Emirates Team New Zealnd/BlackMatch Racing Team, Torvar Mirsky (AUS) and hisMirsky Racing Team, and Damien Iehl and his French Match Racing Team – are all on two points after the day’s racing.

Other teams on two points include Pierre-Antoine Morvan (FRA) and Keith Swinton (USA), while the remaining teams in the field are either on one point or still looking for their first win.

A team which has heretofore performed abysmally in a past Tour event has shown bright indeed in their first day of racing, joining Rahm on an impressive 3-0 score. British Olympic medalist Ben Ainslie and his Team Origin have thusfar not only gone undefeated, but had most of his opponents today tied up in penalties as well. This is a far cry from his last-place performance at Match Cup Sweden, held just days before his departure for this past summer’s Games in Quingdao, though he claims he felt they sailed well there but just couldn’t get the conversions to win.

“I’ve got a great team with me here, but I don’t think we sailed all that poorly in Marstrand to deserve that finish. We just didn’t get any breaks there, and so far, things are just coming together better for us here,” said Ainslie.

While getting some breaks can make the difference needed for a winning score, avoiding the breaks can as well. In a particularly blustery match in Group 3, Col seemed to have things well in hand in his match against Don Wilson (USA), having gotten a penalty against Wilson in the pre-start which he extended to a 5-length lead around the track. But just several lengths shy of his first leeward mark rounding, Col’s boom snapped at the vang in a particularly large puff, forcing his team to improvise downwind and upwind trim solutions for the mainsail for the remaining two laps around the course. And while Wilson got by Col to take a several-length lead, Col and his team’s extraordinary efforts and clever techniques kept the lead from extending further, and after performing his penalty turn at the finish line, Col was so close to very nearly take back the match.

Round Robin racing resumes today at the King Edward VII Gold Cup, presented by Argo Group, with Group 2 starting in the morning, followed by Group 3 then Group 1.

Current standings, after 3 flights:

GROUP 1
Ben Ainslie (GBR) Team Origin, 3-0
Mattias Rahm (SWE) Stena Bulk Sailing Team, 3-0
Mathieu Richard (FRA) French Match Racing Team/Team French Spirit, 2-1
Damien Iehl (FRA) French Match Racing Team, 2-1
Takumi Nakamura (JPN) Team Albatross, 1-2
Chris Van Tol (USA) Van Tol Match Racing Team, 1-2
Brian Angel (USA) King Harbour Yacht Club, 0-3
Sally Barkow (USA) Team 7 Racing, 0-3

GROUP 2
Ian Williams (GBR) Team Pindar, 2-0*
Bjorn Hansen (SWE) Alandia Sailing Team, 2-1
Adam Minoprio (NZL) Emirates Team New Zealnd/BlackMatch Racing Team, 2-1
Keith Swinton (USA) Black Swan Racing, 2-1
Andrew Horten (USA), 1-1*
Rasmus Viltoft (DEN), 1-2
Erik Koppernaes (CAN), 1-2
Jon Singsen (USA), 0-3
* match postponed until today

GROUP 3
Sebastien Col (FRA) French Match Racing Team/K Challenge, 2-1
Torvar Mirsky (AUS) Mirsky Racing Team, 2-1
Johnie Berntsson (SWE) Berntsson Sailing Team, 2-1
Pierre Antoine Morvan (FRA) ETM Match Racing, 2-1
Eric Monnin (SUI) Search.ch, 1-2
David Perry (USA), 1-2
Blythe Walker (BDA), 1-2
Donald Wilson (USA), 1-2

Current World Match Racing Tour Leaderboard (top eight teams):
1. Ian Williams (GBR) Team Pindar, 98 points
2. Sebastien Col (FRA) French Match Racing Team/K-Challenge, 92
3. Mathieu Richard (FRA) French Match Racing Team/ French Team Spirit, 87
4. Torvar Mirsky (AUS) Mirsky Racing Team , 53
5. Magnus Holmberg (SWE) Victory Challenge, 51
6. Paolo Cian (ITA) Team Shosholoza, 43
7. Bjorn Hansen (SWE) Alandia Sailing Team, 40
8. Mattias Rahm (SWE) Stena Bulk Sailing Team, 34

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Photo by Charles Anderson

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Photo by Charles Anderson


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