WMRT Argo Gold Cup qualifying groups

7:53 PM Fri 30 Sep 2011 GMT

'2011 Argo Gold Cup. Day 2 Racing in the Stage 1 qualifier round Willams and Bertnsson' Bermuda Gold Cup/ Charles Anderson &copy Click Here to view large photo

The Argo Gold Cup - The match is on in Bermuda as the top three sailors on the World Match Racing Tour (WMRT) head up the three groups for the qualifying 'round robin' competition.

The Group 3 top seed is number one ranked Ian Williams (GBR) Team GAC Pindar. In the number two slot on the Tour, Francesco Bruni (ITA) and his Bruni Racing Team sit atop Group 1 and number three ranked Torvar Mirsky (AUS) and the Wave Muscat team top off Group 2. The three won't meet here in Bermuda until the quarterfinals. if they can get past the tough field set for 2011 racing in Bermuda.

The next three teams in the WMRT rankings are placed in the groups next. Peter Gilmour YANMAR Racing (AUS) is ranked number four and slots into Group 2, Ranked number five Bjorn Hanson (SWE) Mekonomen Sailing Team lands in Group 1 and number six ranked Damien Iehl (FRA) French Match Racing Team goes into Group 3 with tour leader Ian Williams.

Following them are the next three WMRT ranked teams. Number seven Mathieu Richard (FRA) French Match Racing Team joins Group 3, Jesper Radich (DEN) Adrian Lee & Partners number eight on the Tour lands in Group 1 and Johnie Berntsson (SWE) Berntsson Sailing Team number nine slots into Group 2.

The rest of the selections for each group were decided by the Argo Group Gold Cup Organizing Committee, including Royal Bermuda Yacht Club Commodore Peter Shrubb, event director Brian Billings, and Craig Mitchell, the Director of the World Match Racing Tour.

'After we placed the tour leaders by rank, we divided the rest of the competitors based on their ISAF rankings and performance in recent match racing regattas,' said Commodore Shrubb. 'Craig Mitchell and I had long discussions over this and the groups as we have structured them are as balanced as possible. '

'We anticipate some fierce competition and another excellent Argo Group Gold Cup regatta,' Shrubb added. 'Maybe one of the youngsters will pull an upset. Stay tuned for a great week of Bermuda sailing. Spectators are welcome in Bermuda at the RBYC and around the world on www.wmrt.com .'

The sailors in each group will match up against each other in the qualifying rounds, set for Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, sailing a scheduled round-robin format. After each team in the group has sailed each other team once, the top two teams move directly into the quarter-finals. The third and fourth place teams in each group enter the repecharge sail another six boat round-robin with the top two going on into the quarterfinals.

The finals are scheduled for October 10 along with the final race of the RenRe Jr Gold Cup, the annual international junior invitational Opti regatta held in conjunction with the Argo Group Gold Cup. The Argo Group Gold Cup is followed on the World Match Racing Tour by their prestigious season ending finale, The Monsoon Cup, sailed in Kuala Terengganu, Malaysia.

Argo Gold Cup website
World Match Racing Tour website

by Talbot Wilson

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WMRT Argo Gold Cup qualifying groups

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