Please select your home edition
Edition
Doyle_SailWorld_728X90px-02 TOP

Defending Bermuda Gold Cup champion leads race to Quarter Finals

by World Match Racing Tour 31 Oct 22:57 NZDT 29 October - 3 November 2024
Bermuda Gold Cup, Day 2. Royal Bermuda Yacht Club, Hamilton, Bermuda. October 30 © Ian Roman / WMRT

Sweden's Johnie Berntsson, 2023 defending champion of the Bermuda Gold Cup and three-time winner of the event, completed the round robin stage of this year's Bermuda Gold Cup event with six wins out of seven races, leading the line-up of international entries into today's Quarter-finals stage.

The eight teams competing set out yesterday afternoon to complete the final flights of the round-robin stage which will seed the skippers into the next Quarter-final stage. Finishing the round robin stage ahead was Sweden's Johnie Berntsson followed by USA's Chris Poole in second, and Australia's Cole Tapper in third.

2023 Gold Cup champion Berntsson and crew have been the team to beat at this year's 72nd edition of the event, only losing one of their round robin matches to USA's Gavin Brady.

In one of the closest matches of the day, Bermuda's Kelsey Durham came very close to pulling off a major upset as he led Berntsson on the final run of their match to the finish line but was just unable to hold off his Swedish rival.

"It's just our lack of match racing in the last four years that we haven't done while these guys are doing it all the time." Durham told Bermuda's Royal Gazette in an earlier interview.

Durham seized the early advantage after Berntsson was tagged with a double penalty. The lead then swapped hands before the defending champion surged ahead. Durham battled on but was stopped dead in his tracks after losing his spinnaker at the finish line.

Durham was later forced to make a crew change in the final race of the day after trimmer Nico Stefani was injured during the mishap.

Australia's Cole Tapper, competing in his first ever Bermuda Gold Cup, posted an impressive four wins in the round robin finishing the stage in third place after breaking a three-way tie against USA's Gavin Brady and Switzerland's Eric Monnin.

"On the first day we definitely had boat handing and starting issues but we have improved on those, and we know we are not slow" commented Tapper at the post-race press conference.

Racing continues today with the start of the Quarter final stage.

See full results here

Overall results after Round Robin stage:

    1. Johnie Berntsson (SWE). 6-1
    2. Chris Poole (USA). 5-2
    3. Cole Tapper (AUS). 4-3
    4. Eric Monnin (SUI). 4-3
    5. Gavin Brady (USA). 4-3
    6. Nick Egnot-Johnson (NZL). 2-5
    7. David Hood (USA) 2-5
    8. Kelsey Durham (BER) 1-6

Visit the Bermuda Gold Cup and World Match Racing Tour websites for more information.

Related Articles

Vendee Globe: 'Crazy Kiwi' racing on renewables
Conrad Colman plans on repeating his 2015/26 feat racing without the use of fossil fuel In the 2016 Vendee Globe, Conrad Colman became the first competitor in Vendee Globe history to finish without using a drop of fossil fuel during his circumnavigation. He plans on repeating the feat in the upcoming Vendee Globe race. Posted on 30 Oct
Predictwind is official partner of Vendee Globe
PredictWind will bring fans into the Vendée Globe action with a world-first Race Weather Centre Global leader in marine weather forecasting, PredictWind, has announced its official partnership with IMOCA - one of the fastest and most exciting offshore yacht racing classes - to become the exclusive Weather Data Supplier for the Vendée Globe 2024. Posted on 22 Oct
NZ Marine industry celebrates Am Cup Defence
NZ marine technology and innovation is used both by its own and other teams contesting the Cup While New Zealand sailors are considered among the world's best, the country's marine technology and innovation is used both by its own team, and by the teams contesting the America's Cup. Posted on 19 Oct
New facilities attract more superyachts to NZ
Superyacht attraction initiatives paying off as NZ Marine reports $212m superyacht economic boost A new report shows superyacht visitors injected $212m into the New Zealand economy in the 2023/4 season. The report has been released as New Zealand ramps up its superyacht attraction initiatives. Posted on 11 Oct
Cup Spy - Finals - Who dares, wins
The AC75 proved its ability to provide compelling viewing, match racing at speeds touching 55kts Critics of the AC75 and its suitability as a match racer for the America's Cup should be eating their words after Sunday's Blinder in Barcelona Posted on 30 Sep
Check the rules before summer boating starts 
Marine biosecurity teams are reminding boaties and all marine users to make sure they are across mar Marine biosecurity teams are reminding boaties and all marine users to make sure they are across marine pest risks and rules before heading out on the water this summer. Posted on 24 Sep
17 NZ marinas now on ‘Clean Marina journey'
Kiwi marinas make big steps in environmental performance : 17 marinas now on ‘Clean Marina journey' The $540 million marina and boatyard industry is on a mission to minimise its environmental impact, particularly in relation to coastal water quality. Posted on 21 Sep
Southern Spars at the Monaco Yacht Show
From America's Cup technology to the World's largest sailing catamaran: Connect with Southern Spars The Monaco Yacht Show is the showcase event for innovation in the superyacht industry and as the global leader in high-performance composite rig technology for luxury yachts, Southern Spars is excited to attend again in 2024. Posted on 19 Sep
Go North for the 37th America's Cup
North Sails is proud to be the sailmaker of choice for all entries participating in the Cup North Sails is proud to be the sailmaker of choice for all entries participating in the Cup. We supply each AC75 with 3Di sail technology, aero engineers, and exclusive access to the industry's most advanced sail design and aero simulation tools. Posted on 13 Sep
South Island Rally launch
Flexible destinations and departure dates, heaps of support to help you get organised Join us for an adventure of a lifetime on the South Island Rally this summer. Visiting Abel Tasman & Marlborough Sounds, and the option to head further south to Fiordland, Stewart Island, Otago & Banks Peninsula too. Posted on 6 Sep
PredictWind - Wave Routing 728x90 BOTTOMHALLSPARS_BOOMS_SW_728X99-lot-99 BOTTOMDoyle_SailWorld_728X90px-01 BOTTOM