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Three-groups, 24-team field complete three flights each in gear-busting conditions - World Tour leaders emerge at the top of the standings
Hamilton, Bermuda: 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 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 today 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 today was postponed until tomorrow. 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 his Mirsky 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 are looking for their first win.
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HAMILTON BERMUDA, October 7, 2008: Today Ben Ainslie (GBR) took his Olympic Gold Medal skills to the King Edward VII Gold Cup presented by Argo Group. The British skipper of Team Origin was a perfect three for three in Group One matches on the event’s first day. Ainslie defeated reigning champion Mathieu Richard (FRA), French Match Racing Team/French Spirit, in a hot battle in the second flight of the day. Their race included a hook-up between Ainslie’s bow and Richard’s loose mainsheet in a complicated windward mark rounding. Ainslie took the inside track from behind and when Richard gybed he didn’t give Ainslie room to keep clear and the two hooked up in a slow French minuete. Richard was double flagged, and that was it. Ainslie also defeated Richard’s countryman Damien Lehl and American Chris Von Tol.
In other Group One racing Mattias Rahm (SWE), Stena Bulk Sailing Team, also stands 3-0 with wins over Takumi Nakumura (JPN) and Brian Angel (USA) and Sally Barkow (USA). Barkow and Angel were winless today. Angel and Damien Lehl were involved in a head-on collision at the start of their third flight match.
As the winds picked up during the afternoon, there was more damage. Two booms were broken and Ian Willliams’ opponent in his third race had a breakdown before the start. That race will be sailed first thing on Wednesday. Williams (GBR) Team Pindar, the leader on the World Match Racing Tour, is the only skipper in the group with a chance to go 3-0 in the first three flights. With all the mayhem in Group Two, Williams is 2-0, Adam Minoprio (NZL), Emirates Team New Zealand/BlackMatch Racing, is 2-0, Keith Swinton (AUS) Black Swan Racing and Bjorn Hansen (SWE) of Alandia Sailing is also 2-0.
Group Three action ran later than expected because of breakdowns and repairs. The committee plans to finish all racing that was scheduled for today except for the Williams-Horton match. That Group 2 match will be sailed on Wednesday.
An update will follow when racing is concluded today.
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 “repecharge” 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.
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By Talbot Wilson
HAMILTON BERMUDA, October 7, 2008: Racing in the King Edward VII Gold Cup presented by Argo Group gets under way on a breezy morning on Hamilton Harbour today. All twenty-four teams entered in the 2008 King Edward VII Gold Cup got in their two hours of practice Monday, met for a briefing at the Royal Bermuda Yacht Club, then headed off for the Opening Reception at Bacardi International just up the harbour.
Sailors were welcomed at the reception by the Managing Director of Bacardi, Michael Brennen, the RBYC Commodore Ralph Richardson, Mark E. Watson chairman and CEO of Argo Group, and Bermuda’s Deputy Governor Mark Capes.
Watson welcomed the sailors and reiterated his comments from earlier last week, “This is the 101st Gold Cup held in Bermuda. As the event enters its second century, it’s imbued with history, tradition and a reputation for excellence that has literally been burnished in over 100 years of competition. Continuing to host a prestigious event like this in Bermuda reinforces the Island’s reputation as one of the best sailing destinations in the world.
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