1545 Hours
Johnie Berntsson’s Berntsson Racing Team has been declared the winner of the 71st Bermuda Gold Cup. The weather conditions on Hamilton Harbour—with winds steadily around 25 knots and gusting to 35, the remnants of Tropical Storm Philippe—prevented any racing today. The awards ceremony is planned for 1630.
1405 Hours
The Race Committee has taken to Hamilton Harbour in the hopes of conducting racing for the Semifinal and Final rounds of the 71st Bermuda Gold Cup. There is a generally accepted windspeed limit of 22 knots for any race to start. While the Race Committee is on the water, the IOD sloops remain dockside and won’t be released until 1430 at the earliest.
1105 Hours
As a 30-knot squall rolled down Hamilton Harbour, another one-hour postponement was issued in the hope that the wind would abate on Hamilton Harbour. In the event that racing is conducted, the Semifinals and Final have been shorted to a first-to-two points from first-to-three points.
1005 Hours
At 1000 hours Principal Race Officer David Campbell-James issued another one-hour postponement to the final day of racing at the 71st Bermuda Gold Cup.
The wind on Hamilton Harbour has increased slightly, to 25 to 30 knots, gusting up to 35 to 40 knots, and whitecaps are rolling down the harbour.
When semifinal racing does commence, Johnie Berntsson’s racing team will sail Harry Price’s Down Under Racing and Taylor Canfield’s Stars+Stripes USA will sail Ian Williams’ Chinaone.Ningbo crew.
0910 Hours
Welcome to the final day of the 71st Bermuda Gold Cup. The Semifinals and Final rounds are planned for today, but the weather continues to play havoc with the schedule.
At the 0900 Skippers’ Briefing, Principal Race Officer David Campbell-James issued a one-hour postponement. A southwesterly wind on Hamilton Harbour is blowing 22 to 27 knots, gusting into the 30s.
The official draw for the crews in the semifinals – Johnie Berntsson’s Berntsson Racing Team, Taylor Canfield’s Stars+Stripes USA, Harry Price’s Down Under Racing and Ian Williams’ Chinaone.Ningbo – is expected to be held at 1000. Berntsson will choose his opponent, a right he earned by being the lone remaining undefeated skipper, which will force the other pairing.