Qualifying Groups set for Argo Group Gold Cup
Argo Group Gold Cup: Stage 6 of the Alpari World Match Racing Tour
Bermuda's Premier Michael Dunkley gave these words of welcome to the Argo Group Gold Cup skippers, crews and spectators.
Taylor Canfield defeated Ian Williams racing in the Quarter Final stage of the
2013 Argo Group Gold Cup at the Royal Bermuda Yacht Club. (Photo credit: Talbot Wilson)
"On behalf of the people of Bermuda, I am delighted to welcome the organizers and competitors and spectators for this year's Argo Group Gold Cup.
The fact that this excellent event is taking place within days of Tropical Storm Fay and Hurricane Gonzalo is testament to Bermuda's tremendous resilience and to your commitment to racing in one of the world's great sailing venues.
A lot of pieces quickly came together to keep The Argo Group Gold Cup on track, and I want to commend all participants for making it happen.
The weather looks good. Boats and crews are ready. Let the racing begin!" - by Talbot Wilson
In spite of Hurricane Gonzalo's thrashing of the Onion Patch last week, the Royal Bermuda Yacht Club and the people of Bermuda are ready to host the 2014 Argo Group Gold Cup, Stage 6 of the Alpari World Match Racing Tour (AWMRT). All 20 teams have arrived safely from their corners of the world and will practice for a day and race on Wednesday.
Thirteen countries are represented in the 2014 Argo Group Gold Cup. The teams have been divided into two groups of 10 for the Qualifying Session round-robin knockout matches:
Group 1 features Tour leader leader Ian Williams (GBR) GAC Pindar, Bjorn Hansen (SWE) Hansen Sailing Team, Keith Swinton (AUS) Team Alpari FX, Francesco Bruni (ITA) Luna Rossa , Pierre Antoine Morvan (FRA) Equipe de France, Johnie Berntsson (SWE) Stena sailing Team, Arthur Herreman (FRA) Match the World, David Storrs (USA) Pequot Racing Team, Somers Kempe (BER) Raymarine/Ocean Electronics, and Dirk-Jan Korpershoek (NED) Opportunity Team.
Group 2 is led by 2nd on the Tour Taylor Canfield (ISV) Team One, Mathieu Richard (FRA) Luna Jet, Phil Robertson (NZL) WAKA Racing, David Gilmour (AUS) Team Gilmour, Staffan Lindberg (FIN) Alandia Sailing Team, Eric Monnin (SWI) Swiss Match Racing Team, Marek Staqnczyk (POL) www.470sailing.org.pl , Chris Poole (USA) Riptide Racing, Lance Fraser (BER) DigiCel Bermuda, and Nathen Outteridge (SWE) Artemis Racing.
Seedings in the groups are based on AWMRT and ISAF rankings and other performance factors. Teams sail a 10-team Round-Robin knock-out elimination within their group. Then the top four teams from each group move on to directly to the knockout phases with Quarter Finals, Semi Finals and Finals scheduled. There is no second-chance Repechage sail-off in the Argo Group Gold Cup... 12 teams are beached at the end of the Round-Robin Qualifying matches.
| Group 1 Skipper |
ISAF Rank |
Tour Rank |
Nation |
Racing Team |
| Williams, Ian |
2 |
1 |
GBR |
GAC Pindar |
| Hansen, Bjorn |
4 |
4 |
SWE |
Hansen Sailing Team |
| Swinton, Keith |
9 |
5 |
AUS |
Team Alpari FX |
| Morvan, Pierre-Antoine |
12 |
8 |
FRA |
Equipe de France |
| Berntsson, Johnie |
16 |
18 |
SWE |
Stena Sailing Team |
| Herreman, Arthur |
20 |
13 |
FRA |
MATCH THE WORLD |
| Bruni, Francesco |
37 |
|
ITA |
Luna Rossa |
| Korpershoek,Dirk-Jan |
42 |
|
NED |
Opportunity Team |
| Storrs, David |
43 |
|
USA |
Pequot Racing Team |
| Kempe, Somers |
|
|
BER |
Raymarine/Ocean Electronics |
| Group 1 Skipper |
ISAF Rank |
Tour Rank |
Nation |
Racing Team |
| Canfield, Taylor |
1 |
2 |
ISV |
US One |
| Richard, Mathieu |
3 |
3 |
FRA |
LunaJets |
| Robertson, Phil |
5 |
6 |
NZL |
WAKA Racing |
| Monnin, Eric |
6 |
13 |
SUI |
Swiss Match Race Team |
| Gilmour, David |
10 |
7 |
AUS |
Team Gilmour |
| Linberg, Staffan |
11 |
|
FIN |
Alandia Sailing Team |
| Poole, Chris |
19 |
|
USA |
Riptide Racing |
| Stanczyk, Marek |
32 |
|
POL |
www.470sailing.org.pl |
| Fraser, Lance |
64 |
|
BER |
Digicel Bermuda |
| Nathan Outteridge |
|
|
SWE |
Artemis Racing |
The 2014 Argo Group Gold Cup will be sailed with the same 20-team format used in 2013. This Argo Group Gold Cup format is unique on the Alpari World Match Racing Tour. It starts with Qualifying in two 10-team groups. Skippers in the groups are ranked and divided by Alpari World Match Racing Tour officials and the organizers at the RBYC.
2014 Alpari World Match Racing Tour Standings after Stage 5
1 Ian Williams (GBR) GAC Pindar 94pts
2 Taylor Canfield (ISV) US One 88pts
3 Mathieu Richard (FRA) LunaJets 76pts
4 Bjorn Hansen (SWE) Hansen Sailing 63pts
5 Keith Swinton (AUS) Team Alpari FX 58pts
6 Phil Robertson (NZL) WAKA Racing 56pts
7 David Gilmour (AUS) Team Gilmour 39pts
8 Francesco Bruni (ITA) Luna Rossa 20pts
Visit Bermuda for Match Racing at its Best
October is a perfect time to sail and vacation in Bermuda and the Argo Group Gold Cup is a showcase "spectator" event culminating in the exciting finals weekend October 25th-26th. All Gold Cup racing is spectator friendly with courses set in Hamilton Harbor from just off of the RBYC marina wall to the harbour shore along the gardens of the Fairmont Hamilton Princess Hotel. Special rates for Gold Cup week will be available at the Hamilton Princess Hotel. http://www.fairmont.com/hamilton-bermuda/
This year will mark the 64th staging of races for the King Edward VII Gold Cup Trophy. Previous winners include some of the greatest names ever to match race. Since the event was reformatted to be sailed under the Match Racing Association in 1985, multiple big-name winners include Chris Dickson (NZL), Russell Coutts (NZL), Peter Gilmour (AUS), and Ben Ainslie (GBR). The 2013 defending champion is Francesco Bruni (ITL).
The Argo Group Gold Cup is the penultimate sixth stage of the Alpari World Match Racing Tour, in which the teams compete for the ISAF Match Racing World Championship. Match racing in Bermuda for The King Edward VII Gold Cup is recognized as one of the classic heritage events on the Alpari World Match Racing Tour.
The 12th annual RenaissanceRe Jr Gold Cup will also be sailed October 23-26 in Bermuda. Argo Group Gold Cup and RenaissanceRe Jr Gold Cup finals weekend is a spectacular time to visit Bermuda.
Working Together to Serve Specialty Markets
Argo Group International Holdings, Ltd. (NasdaqGS: AGII), is an international provider of specialty property and casualty insurance, reinsurance and managed risk solutions. The companies that make up Argo Group share a firm commitment to working together with our independent agents and wholesale and retail brokerage partners to deliver innovative products for niche markets.
Argo Group clients and shareholders alike benefit from our deep understanding of the markets we serve, our ability to manage through all insurance cycles, our well developed and prudent risk management practices and controls, and our track record of growth and profitability.
Through our operating companies, we offer a comprehensive line of high-quality products and services designed to meet the unique coverage and claims-handling needs of our clients in four business segments: Excess and Surplus Lines, Commercial Specialty, International Specialty and Syndicate 1200 at Lloyd's.
At Argo Group, we've built a company with a fundamental purpose of securing the future and a straightforward vision to achieve outstanding results realized together.
Organization-wide, our strategy-easy to define and rewarding to deploy-is to grow hand-in-hand with our clients.
www.argolimited.com
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD : 2014 Argo Group Gold Cup Program (pdf)
About Bermuda:
Although Bermuda is an Atlantic island paradise in its own right, many people mistakenly believe Bermuda is part of the Caribbean. In fact, the island rests hundreds of miles north of the Bahamas, a mere 650 miles east of North Carolina. Flights from New York and other eastern US cities are less than two hours. From London, direct flights are about seven hours.
All of Bermuda fits in a cozy 20.7 square miles surrounded by 75 miles of dramatic coastline. Bermuda is famous for hospitality and sparkling pink-sand beaches. Activities include racquet sports, dramatic golfing, spectacular spas, and cultural festivals in all seasons. Of course Bermuda is famous for sailing as a destination for ocean races from Marion, Newport, and Charleston, for Cruising rallies for other East Coast ports and as host to many national and international competitive events.
From chic international cuisine in posh dining rooms to conch stew and local Rockfish at a roadside café, we have a taste to please every palate and budget. While Bermudians do value island tranquility, we like to have a bit of fun, too. From swanky clubs to friendly neighborhood pubs, these after-hours establishments satisfy every thirst. Cocktail in hand and warm sea breeze at your back, set sail on one of our evening cruises along our famous coastline.
For details on all the excitement and events Bermuda has to offer, call your travel agent or visit us at http://www.bermudatourism.com
Alpari World Match Racing Tour – 2014 Tour Card Holders
| Skipper |
Team |
| Taylor Canfield (ISV) |
US One |
| Ian Williams (GBR) |
GAC Pindar |
| Keith Swinton(AUS) |
Team Alpari FX |
| Bjorn Hansen(SWE) |
Hansen Sailing Team |
| Mathieu Richard (FRA) |
LunaJets |
| Phil Robertson (NZL) |
WAKA Racing |
| Francesco Bruni (ITA) |
Luna Rossa |
| David Gilmour (AUS) |
Team Gilmour |
About the Alpari World Match Racing Tour
The Alpari World Match Racing Tour (AWMRT) is the leading professional sailing series featuring seven World Championship events across the globe, sanctioned by the International Sailing Federation (ISAF) with “Special Event” status.
The Alpari World Match Racing Tour awards over US$1.4 million in prize money with points awarded at each event culminating in the crowning of the “ISAF Match Racing World Champion”. The prize fund includes a US$500,000 overall Tour Bonus for the top teams in the Championship.
Events take place in identically supplied racing yachts to place the focus on teamwork and skill. Racing takes place close to the shore so that spectators and fans can follow the racing in a virtual on-the-water stadium.
Media and television highlights coverage reaches in excess of 183 countries across 51 broadcasters around the world. International television distribution is managed by global sports and entertainment agency IMG.
For more information, visit www.wmrt.com
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