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BEN AINSLIE (GREAT BRITAIN)
At the age of only 32, Ben is one of Britain's top sailors. His impressive sailing career began at the age of eight in Restronguet, Cornwall, UK. By age 16 he was already the Laser Radial World Champion. He won his first Olympic medal at the age of 19, silver in the Laser class at the 1996 Atlanta Games. He has since won two more Olympic medals both of which have been gold. In 2002 Ainslie won the Finn World Championships and successfully defended this title for the following two years. In 2005 he made history to become the most successful Finn sailor ever by winning his 4th successive Finn Gold Cup. Ben has won eight World and European Championships in his sailing career to date, been crowned ISAF World Sailor of the Year in 1998 and 2002, and four times won British Yachtsman of the Year. In 2007 the British America's Cup campaign 'Origin' announced Ainslie as skipper for the 33rd America's Cup challenge in 2009. Ben will be looking to improve on his 3rd place in last year's Gold Cup. ISAF Ranking: 15
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ROBBIE ALLAM (GREAT BRITAIN)
The Allam Racing Team is a young team that is relishing the opportunity to compete at the Argo Group Gold Cup once again. Match-racing for three years as a team they are looking forward to competing more actively and pursuing their goal of competing on the World Match Racing Tour. In 2008 Robbie and members of his team represented Great Britain at the University World Championships 2008. Robbie's accomplishments in 2009 include being training partner to Great Britain's Women's Olympic Match Racing Team; 4th place in the Italia Match Race; 4th place in the Aker Brugge Cup; 3rd place in the Mermaid International Match Racing Championships and 2nd place in the RYA National Championships Qualifier. Allam Racing's competitive schedule begins again in the autumn when they will compete in a couple of events in Scandinavia and of course the Gold Cup in Bermuda. ISAF RANKING: 84
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JOHNIE BERNTSSON (SWEDEN)
Berntsson Sailing Team Match Racing was founded in 1997. A passion for sailing is the common value the team members share with each other. The importance of having fun, before and during an event, is essential to be a member if this team. The team is representing Sweden and the Royal Yacht Club of GKSS. The members are last year's Gold Cup winning skipper Johnie Berntsson with Daniel Wallberg, Johan Bäckman, Niklas Carlzon and Björn Lundgren. Recent professional highlights include 1st place in the Congressional Cup 2009; 1st place in the King Edward VII Gold Cup 2008; 1st place in the Scandinavian Championship 2008 and 1st place in the ACI Cup 2006. ISAF RANKING: 9
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SEBASTIEN COL (FRANCE)
Sebastien started sailing at the age of one when he lived on board a boat with his parents cruising the Atlantic and Mediterranean until he was nine years old. He started racing by the age of ten. Sebastien, a team member of French Match Racing Team /K-Challenge, scored his first career victory on the World Tour in August 2006 when he won the Danish Open in Skovshoved. Recent wins include the Korea Match Cup and the Troia Portugal Match Cup in 2008. Sebastien placed 7th in last year's Gold Cup and was the 2008 World Match Racing Tour Runner Up. In 2009 he was K-Challenge´s skipper and helmsman in the Louis Vuitton Pacific Series. ISAF RANKING: 3
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REUBEN CORBETT (NEW ZEALAND)
At only 22, this young Auckland native is a rising star on the match racing circuit. He started sailing at age 13 beginning with the Optimist dinghy and competing in his first event in 2000. A member of the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron, Reuben's most recent accomplishments include 1st place in the MRX Winter Match Racing Series and 3rd place in the ISAF World Team Racing Championships both in 2009. In 2008 he placed 3rd in the Warren Jones International Match Racing Regatta. He is looking forward to competing at the highest level in his first Gold Cup event in Bermuda. ISAF RANKING: 86
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CHARLIE ENRIGHT (USA)
Charlie Enright, aged 25, is a newcomer to both match racing and the Gold Cup. Charlie started sailing when he was just five years old and began racing when he was ten. He went on to secure a place on the Optimist US National Team and won a High School Team Racing National Championship. While studying at Brown University he became a two-time Collegiate Atlantic Coast and New England Champion. His team was also successful at the ISAF Team Race Worlds in Perth, Australia in February this year gaining 5th place. Although Charlie only started match racing a year ago he was successful in his first match racing event, achieving 1st place at the Chicago Match Race Invitational in Key West, FL in January 2009. He is delighted to have the chance to compete at the 2009 Argo Group Gold Cup
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IAN EVANS (USA)
Competing in his first Gold Cup as skipper, seasoned sailor Ian Evans is a relative newcomer to the top flight match racing scene. After a lifetime of sailing experience and success in both Atlantic Class boats and Etchells he has recently rededicated himself to the sport of match racing under the auspices of the newly founded Oak Cliff Yacht Club, Oyster Bay, NY and the expert tutelage of fellow Gold Cup skipper Dave Perry. Ian is keen to develop and improve his skills in the match racing discipline. Ian was a crew member in the 1995 Gold Cup and is ready to prove he can make the grade as skipper in the 2009 event.
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PETER GILMOUR (AUSTRALIA)
Peter Gilmour is one of the most respected and feared competitors on the World Match Racing Tour. He is a four-time World Champion of Match Race Sailing (1990, '97, '98, 06). He is also one of the most experienced and knowledgeable skippers on the match racing circuit today. He has participated in five America's Cup challenges winning with the Alinghi syndicate in 2007. He currently represents the Yanmar Racing Team and most recently won the Monsoon Cup in 2008. Peter has competed in several Gold Cup regattas and will be aiming to give the younger skippers a run for their money in the 2009 event. ISAF RANKING: 11
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BJORN HANSEN (SWEDEN)
Bjorn Hansen co-founded and runs the Stockholm Match Race Centre. Bjorn started match racing in 1994 and became helmsman in 1997. The team has seen their ranking improve ever since, climbing to a current ranking of 10th. Bjorn was also named Swedish Sailor of the Year in 2007. This year so far he has been victorious in the Open de Espana Match Race. He was successful in 2008 in many events including the Swedish Championships, the GSYS Qualifier and the Brazil Sailing Cup. First place finishes include the World Tours 2007 Match Cup Sweden. First place finishes in 2006 include the JP Morgan Winter Challenge 4, FIM Cup, Ice Breaker Cup and Scandinavian Championship. He also won the 2005 Octbermatchen, 2005 Winter Challenge, 2004 Landrover Cup, 2004 TNT Cup and the 2004 Swedish Match Racing Championship. Bjorn races regularly in the Archipelago Raid and skippered the Volvo Ocean 60 SAP Northern Lights in 2003. ISAF RANKING: 10
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DAMIEN IEHL (FRANCE)
Thrown into the deep waters of sailing when he was four years old, Damien sailed with his parents in the Mediterranean for a year and a half, and hasn't left the sea since. He passed through Optimists, 420s, 470s, and made his first Tour de France in 1996. He took up match racing in earnest and won the world championships at 25 years old in 1997. He competed in the America's Cup for the first time in 2002, with LE DEFI. He campaigned a second time with the China Team in Valencia at the last America's Cup. Since 2006, Damien has built a new team to compete at the highest level of match racing; he has been in the top ten of the world championship for the last three years, and also a member of the French Team. His next goal is to participate again at the next America's Cup. Damien competed in the 2008 Gold Cup and hopes to improve on his 10th place at this year's event. ISAF RANKING: 5
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PAULA LEWIN (BERMUDA)
Paula is Bermuda's four-time Female Athlete of the Year. She holds the distinction of being the first all-female team to advance through the qualifying rounds of the Gold Cup, which she did in 1999, 2002 and 2003. In 2002, she finished 5th, the best finish for a female skipper in the history of the event. First place finishes for Lewin include the 2006 Nations Cup Qualifier, 2004 ISAF Combined Yngling Worlds, 2004 Spa Regatta, 2002 and 2003 Bermuda Women's Match Racing Championship and the 2002 Key Biscayne Yacht Club Yngling Event. Paula represented Bermuda in the Yngling class at the 2004 Olympic Games. Paula actively competes in local and international match racing events and is excited to be representing her country again in home waters. ISAF WOMEN'S RANKING: 75
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ALVARO MARINHO (PORTUGAL)
Alvaro, who started sailing at the age of eight in the Optimist dinghy, has three consecutive 470 Class Olympic campaigns under his belt along with three National Championship wins, plus a win at the 2006 ISAF Nations Cup Regional Final. In 2007 Alvaro began competing in the World Match Race Tour. He was 470 Class European Champion in 2007 and won the 470 Class World Silver Medal in 2008. He is looking forward to a return visit to the island for the 2009 Gold Cup. ISAF RANKING: 17
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ADAM MINOPRIO (NEW ZEALAND)
Adam, joined the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadrons Youth Training Academy in 2002 and has been rising up the ranks quickly ever since. Adam, now aged 23, along with his team "Black Match Racing" won the Marseille International Match Race this year and came 2nd in the Portugal Match Cup. In 2008 the team were successful in the Toyota Sopot Match Cup, Blurimini Match Race Italy and the Open Match Race Austria. They also placed 2nd in the Monsoon Cup and the Bermuda Gold Cup. Other achievements include winning the 2007 Hardy Cup and the 2006 and 2007 Asian Match Race Championships. Adam was 4th in the 2008 World Match Racing Tour. This will be Adam's second time competing in the Bermuda Gold Cup following his spectacular Gold Cup debut in 2008 when he faced Johnie Berntsson in the final. His main goal for this year is to win the World Match Race Tour. ISAF RANKING: 1
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TORVAR MIRSKY (AUSTRALIA)
Often compared to the likes of match racing superstars such as James Spithill and Peter Gilmour, Torvar Mirsky is the new young gun to take the sailing world by storm.
He showed promise from the early days, winning the Sub Junior Mirror Australian National Championships when he was just 12 years old and becoming the Youth World Champion in 2001. After competing in a number of youth match racing events in Australia and New Zealand, he got together with a large group of talented sailors in Perth in 2005 and formed MRT. The group has since then reduced down to the team that exists now. At the beginning of the 2006 sailing season, Torvar began his climb of the world rankings, and now just 3 years on, is sitting in 6th place on the ISAF and in 4th place on the World Match Racing Tour leader boards at only 23 years of age. Torvar competed in the 2008 Gold Cup and returns this year as a strong contender. ISAF RANKING: 6
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ERIC MONNIN (SWITZERLAND)
Eric, along with his Swiss Match Race Team, returns to Bermuda for his 6th consecutive Gold Cup. Monnin claimed victory at the 2008 and 2007 Open MR Hard, 2006 Geneva International Match Race, 2006 Match Race Luzern, 2006 April in Antibes, 2005 UBS Alinghi Swiss Tour Zurich, 2005 Match Race Annecy and 2005 JP Morgan Fleming Winter Challenge. Eric, in conjunction with Jean-Claude Monnin, is the inventor and developer of the Alinghi Match Race Simulator. The team placed 9th in last year's event and hope to proceed much further this year. ISAF RANKING: 31
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DAVE PERRY (USA)
Hailing from Southport, Connecticut, Dave started sailing at the age of ten and began racing by age 12. Some of his successes include, first place in the 2006 ABC Midway Quarter, US MR Championship ABC Semi Finals, three-time US Match Race Champion, the 2007 Porto Alegre Match Race Cup and the 2007 Sudamericano de Match Race. This year he has competed in the Congressional Cup and the Bayview International Match Race. 2009 will be Perry's third time competing for the Gold Cup in Bermuda at one of his favourite events. ISAF RANKING: 48
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MATTIAS RAHM (SWEDEN)
This year marks Mattias' fourth time competing for the Gold Cup. Rahm has scored first place in events including, the 2008 GKSS Match Cup Sweden, 2006 Jeep Challenge, three time winner of the Ice Breaker Cup and two time winner of the Swedish National Match Racing Championship. Mattias was the strategist for Victory Challenge for all of the races in the Louis Vuitton Cup 2007. He placed 4th in the 2008 King Edward VII Gold Cup. ISAF RANKING: 20
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MATHIEU RICHARD (FRANCE)
Mathieu Richard began sailing at age 11 in the Optimist dingy and is the four-time French Champion in Optimists and 420s. He began match racing in 1998 and sails with SABA sailing team and the Americas Cup Team French Spirit. Mathieu was the victor in the 2007 Bermuda Gold Cup and will be aiming to win it again this year. Other first place finishes for Richard include the 2008 Marseille International Match Race, 2007 Congressional Cup, 2006 Nations Cup, 2005 Mumms 30 World Champion (tactician), 2004 Internationaux de France and the 2004 Tour de France (tactician & helmsman). Mathieu has been sailing with the same crewmembers since 2000 and his goal for 2009 is to win the World Match Racing Tour. ISAF RANKING: 2
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PHIL ROBERTSON (NEW ZEALAND)
Phil Robertson has been match racing since he was a teenager starting at the prestigious Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron Youth Training Programme. He won the Youth International Match Racing Championship in 2007 and 2008 and has finished in top spots at many other youth events in Australasia. His team is Waka Racing, a newly formed Match Racing team from Auckland, New Zealand. The core team was formed at the start of 2009 when they won their first event, the Warren Jones Youth Regatta. This qualified them for the Danish Open. They have been in Europe since April and have been competing in as many match racing regattas as possible with the goal of competing on the Match Racing Tour in the future. ISAF RANKING: 36
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KEITH SWINTON (AUSTRALIA)
Keith Swinton is from Perth, Australia and is the helmsman of the 'Black Swan Racing Team'. At the age of only 23, he is one of Australia best new talents. In 2006 he won the Cowes International Youth Week and the W.A. Match Racing Championships. He also scored a third in the Harken International Match Racing. In 2007 he placed second in the Warren Jones Memorial Match Racing Regatta and first in the W.A. State Match Racing. Last year he placed 1st both in the 5th Trofeo G. Marconi and the Fim Match Cup and secured 3rd place at the Knickerbocker Cup and the Toyota Sopot Match Race. Keith also proved to be strong contender in his first Gold Cup attaining 6th place in last year's event. ISAF RANKING: 26
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RASMUS VILTOFT (DENMARK)
Rasmus has sailed since he was a child, first with his father in the family's beach dinghy, then at age seven he started in the optimist dinghy where he stayed until age l4. After a short break he sailed a two person dinghy called flipper for three years. At age 22 he started match racing. For the last four years he has build up a strong team that has stayed steady in top 50. He has participated in more than 100 match racing events and has a goal of reaching top ten. Career successes include 1st place in the Berlin International H-boat Match Race Championship in 2007 and a 1st place in the RMC3 in 2008. Rasmus' aim for the 2009 Bermuda Gold Cup is to do better than last year and reach at least the quarterfinals. ISAF RANKING: 58
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BLYTHE WALKER (BERMUDA)
After representing Bermuda in the 1992 Olympics in the 470 class, Blythe's focus turned to match racing. He has competed in over a dozen Bermuda Gold Cup regattas and other international match racing events. Blythe's focus the past few years has been on Bermuda events with recent highlights being a 3rd and 4th place finish in the Bermuda Gold Cup in 2006 and 2007 respectively. Outside of the Bermuda match-racing scene, Blythe also races IOD's and J-105's on a semi-regular basis during the year. ISAF RANKING: 275
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IAN WILLIAMS (GREAT BRITAIN)
Ian Williams, who sails with Team Pindar sponsored by Argo Group, started racing at the age of nine in a Cadet. He won the Youth Match Racing Worlds in 1994 and 1995. In 2005 he took a sabbatical from his profession as a lawyer, to pursue match racing. His pursuit has clearly been successful as Ian is the first Briton to ever lead the ISAF World Match Race rankings or the World Match Racing Tour. Ian claimed the Tour Champion Title in 2007 and 2008. First place finishes include the 2008 GKSS Ice Breaker, the 2007 RYA Winter Challenge, 2007 St. Moritz Match Race, 2007 Marseille International Match Race, 2006 King Edward VII Gold Cup, and the 2006 JP Morgan Asset Challenge. His ambition is to one day win the America's Cup. Ian returns to Bermuda this year determined to improve on his 5th place in 2008. ISAF RANKING: 4
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DONALD WILSON (USA)
2009 will be Donald Wilson's second time competing for the King Edward VII Gold Cup. Wilson is the founder of the Chicago Match Race Center (www.chicagomatchrace.com), a Chicago based match race training and regatta facility. He competes in both fleet and match race races regularly. He has won numerous events, including the prestigious 2008 Windy City Match Race, the 2008 J-105 JPYC Match Race and most recently the Verve Cup. ISAF RANKING: 108
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Skippers 
