King Edward VII Gold Cup

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In only second event of World Tour this year, defeats Minoprio in 3-1 Final

By Dobbs Davis/World Match Racing Tour

Hamilton, Bermuda 12th October 2008: On yet another spectacular day of match race sailing on Hamilton Harbor, Johnie Berntsson (SWE) and his Berntsson Racing Team has defeated Adam Minoprio (NZL) and his Emirates Team New Zealand/BlackMatch team in a decisive 3-1 Final for the prestigious King Edward VII Gold Cup presented by Argo Group. This was only Berntsson’s second Tour event this year as a skipper, and for his efforts Berntsson and his team of Johan Backman, Bjorn Lundgren, and Martin Berntsson have won the top $50,000 prize of the $100,000 total purse. The 101 year old trophy was presented by Sir Richard Gozney, the Governor of Bermuda.

“This was a fantastic event for us,” said Berntsson, “because not only did I feel we sailed really well, but we also really had fun.” Winning must have certainly played a part in having fun, as Berntsson’s overall win-loss record of 15-3 in this long competition was indeed impressive: on his road to the Finals he led his group of eight skippers on a 6-1 Round Robin record into the Quarter-finals, then beat third-ranked Tour regular Mathieu Richard (FRA) and his French Match Racing Team/French Spirit 3-1. He then defeated fellow Swede Mattias Rahm and the Stena Bulk Sailing Team 3-0 in yesterday’s Semi-Finals before winning today 3-1 in the Finals.

“I’m only the guy holding the tiller, the credit goes to the guys on my team,” said a modest Berntsson. “When I would put us into trouble, it was always my guys who got us out.”

This trouble included having earned a pre-start penalty in Match Three of the Finals from umpires Sally Burnett (GBR) and Jan Stage (DEN) for not keeping clear of an aggressive Minoprio and his team at the start, but managed to get ahead off the start for an early lead in the match. Minoprio kept the race close, managing to challenge the Swedes for the lead at the second top mark rounding on the three-lap course. After a protracted dial-up well to windward of this mark, the pair broke off, Berntsson tacking to complete his penalty, but ceding the lead to the Kiwis downwind.

But Berntsson never gave up, chasing Minoprio around the track, splitting when the shifts were favorable, and managed to dig back to gain control once again at the top of the third and final beat. This time Berntsson held the lead and even managed to extend slightly to take the series to 2-1, and after having a slight edge off the start in the final match, the Swedes would simply extend and hold this lead all the way to the finish.

In Petite-Final action, Ben Ainslie (GBR) and his Team Origin held off an aggressive Rahm to win the first-to-three point series in three straight matches, using the same smooth style he’s displayed all week with excellent timing and calling of shifts with help from fellow Olympian Iain Percy.

OVERALL RESULTS
1st Johnie Berntsson (SWE) Berntsson Sailing Team $50,000
2nd Adam Minoprio (NZL) ETNZ/BlackMatch Racing $20,000
3rd Ben Ainslie (GBR) Team Origin $10,000
4th Mattias Rahm (SWE) Stena Bulk Sailing Team $7,000
5th Ian Williams (GBR) Team Pindar $5,500
6th Keith Swinton (AUS) Black Swan Racing $4,000
7th Sebastien Col (FRA) French Team/K-Challenge $2,500
8th Mathieu Richard (FRA) French Team/Team French Spirit $1,000

FINALS
Winners in BOLD
(First to three points)

M1 Adam Minoprio vs Johnie Berntsson
M2 Johnie Berntsson vs Adam Minoprio
M3 Adam Minoprio vs Johnie Berntsson
M4 Johnie Berntsson vs Adam Minoprio

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

For more information about the World Match Racing Tour, visit the WMRT website at www.worldmatchracingtour.com

Berntsson And Minoprio Through To The Finals

Two young teams defeat America’s Cup veterans in Gold Cup Semi-Finals

By Dobbs Davis/World Match Racing Tour

Hamilton, Bermuda – The upsets continue here in Hamilton Harbour as Johnie Berntsson (SWE) and his Berntsson Racing Team and Adam Minoprio (NZL) and the Emirates Team New Zealand/BlackMatch Racing team advance to tomorrow’s Final round at the King Edward VII Gold Cup presented by Argo Group. Berntsson decisively defeated fellow Swede Mattias Rahm and his Stena Bulk Sailing Team on a straight 3-0 score, while Minoprio took it all the way to the fifth match to defeat Ben Ainslie (GBR) and his Team Origin. This is the first World Match Racing Tour final for both teams, where they will vie for the top prize of US$50,000.

“We’re certainly excited to get to our first Tour Finals,” said Minoprio, after having gotten to the Semi’s in two, it feels great to finally have a chance at the top prize. In jest, Minoprio added “And we plan to make all that we can at having got past one of the world’s top sailors!”

Berntsson’s apparent romp over Rahm was in contrast to their intense rivalry, as the two trained together in preparation for this event at their home club in Sweden, the Royal Gothenburg Sailing Club (GKSS), so their matches were indeed tight fights, especially in the pre-starts. Nonetheless, Rahm has had an up and down cycle of success here in Bermuda, winning and losing three matches each day in alternation. “We were always challenged by Mattias, he has a very good team with a lot of experience, but the breaks just went our way today,” said Berntsson.

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