Reigning Champion of Bermuda Gold Cup Leads Quarter-Final Race
by World Match Racing Tour 31 Oct 02:57 PDT
29 October – 3 November 2024
Bermuda Gold Cup, Day 2. Royal Bermuda Yacht Club, Hamilton, Bermuda. October 30 © Ian Roman / WMRT
Swedish sailor Johnie Berntsson, who is the reigning champion of the Bermuda Gold Cup and a three-time winner, completed this year’s round-robin phase of the Bermuda Gold Cup with six victories in seven races, placing him at the top of the international competitors advancing to today’s Quarter-finals.
The eight competing teams began yesterday afternoon to finish the last matches of the round-robin stage, which will establish the seeding for skippers in the Quarter-finals. Leading the round robin was Johnie Berntsson from Sweden, followed by Chris Poole from the USA in second place, and Cole Tapper from Australia in third.
Berntsson, the 2023 Gold Cup champion, and his crew have performed exceptionally well at this year’s 72nd iteration of the competition, losing only one match in the round robin to Gavin Brady of the USA.
In one of the day’s most thrilling matches, Kelsey Durham from Bermuda nearly pulled off a significant upset by leading Berntsson on the final stretch to the finish line, but ultimately couldn’t maintain his edge against the Swedish competitor.
“It’s our limited match racing experience over the last four years that has put us at a disadvantage while these teams race frequently,” Durham remarked to Bermuda’s Royal Gazette in a prior interview.
Durham initially took the lead after Berntsson incurred a double penalty. The match saw multiple lead changes before the defending champion pulled ahead. Despite his efforts, Durham was halted when he lost his spinnaker just as they approached the finish.
Later, Durham had to replace a crew member in the day’s final race after trimmer Nico Stefani sustained an injury during the incident.
Cole Tapper from Australia, making his debut in the Bermuda Gold Cup, achieved an impressive record of four wins in the round robin and finished in third place after breaking a three-way tie with Gavin Brady of the USA and Eric Monnin of Switzerland.
“On the first day, we definitely faced some challenges with boat handling and starts, but we have improved in those areas, and we know we’re not slow,” Tapper stated at the post-race press conference.
The racing action continues today with the commencement of the Quarter-final stage.
Complete results can be accessed here.
Overall standings after the Round Robin phase:
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
For further information, visit the Bermuda Gold Cup and World Match Racing Tour websites.
