Hamilton, Bermuda: On October 11th and 12th, the first-ever Bermuda Festival of
Sail will bring added fun and family entertainment to the finals weekend of the King Edward VII Gold
Cup. The new event is presented by Argo Group and supported by volunteer help from the Big Brothers
& Big Sisters of Bermuda and the Bermuda Sailing Association.
The Festival of Sail will be held against the backdrop of Bermuda’s most prestigious international sailing event, the King Edward VII Gold Cup presented by Argo Group. Families and visitors coming to the Hamilton waterfront will be treated to some of the world’s best match race sailing. This is Stage 8 of the World Match Race Tour Championship. The Festival of Sail will take place in Barr’s Park, adjacent to the Royal Bermuda Yacht Club. Admission is Free.
During the entire Gold Cup week and the Festival of Sail, the Royal Bermuda Yacht Club will be open to the general public. RBYC and Argo Group invite the people of Bermuda and visitors to the islands to enjoy the club facilities and the festival and to witness the world’s top match racing Skippers sailing for the Gold Cup.
As a family fun event with a pirate and nautical theme, the Festival of Sail is open for all. Families with children and young adults are invited to take part in activities celebrating boating and the sea. Activities throughout the day include sea shanty performances, nautical photo stations, a fun castle, face painting, boat rides, a boat show, a Bermuda Sailing Association information station, pirate appearances, historical sailors highlights, live music and Gold Cup Match Race commentary for Saturday and Sunday’s competition.
For a special attraction, Spirit of Bermuda will be at RBYC and the Festival of Sail from 1pm-4pm both Saturday and Sunday, sponsored by Bermuda Container Line. Young adults who have trained aboard the sloop will be on board to show guests around and answer questions about their own experiences. The Tall Ships Bermuda 2009 committee will be on board to promote their 2009 event, recruit volunteers and sign up young Bermudians who want to take part in any leg of the Vigo-Tenerife-Bermuda- Charleston-Boston-Halifax-Belfast race.
In the 2008 Gold Cup, Frenchman Mathieu Richard will be back in Bermuda to defend his title in the 101st year of sailing for the spectacular golden trophy. In 2007, Richard defeated Bjorn Hansen of Sweden 2-0 in the finals to take the gold. Hansen will also return hoping to unseat the reigning champion. Great Britain’s Ian Williams, winner of the 2006 Gold Cup, will be on hand, too, sailing hard to regain his championship form in the Bermuda classic.
The Royal Bermuda Yacht Club Commodore Ralph Richardson praised Argo Group’s support. “Argo Group’s contribution makes the Bermuda Festival of Sail a reality,” Commodore Richardson said. “It is a significant community enhancement to the October Gold Cup event that is designed to encourage families to participate in the two-day event which will include free sailing, fun castles, face painting, pirates, a boat show, fun food and much more.
“The goal of the Bermuda Festival of Sail,” Commodore Richardson added, “is to introduce the joy of sailing to the youth of Bermuda and to their parents as well. Two Bermuda organizations, the Bermuda Sailing Association and Big Brothers Big sisters of Bermuda, have partnered with us and will organize and staff the festival.”
Mark Watson, President and CEO of Argo Group commented on his company’s commitment to the event. “My colleagues at Argo Group know that I am an avid sailor.” Watson said. “They may think that’s what prompted my interest in sponsoring the Gold Cup. I can’t deny the subject matter got my attention, as well as the opportunities for introducing Argo Group to our business partners in Bermuda. “But it was the focus on the community and its young people that really sealed the deal,” Watson continued. “Commodore Richardson has a vision of how sailing can support the positive growth and development of Bermuda’s young people. I applaud that vision, because I know first-hand how this sport contributes to problem-solving, team-work and discipline. Its impact on young people can be profound.”
Speaking on behalf of the Big Brothers and Big Sisters Esme Williams said, “Big Brothers Big Sisters of Bermuda is honoured to have received the invitation to partner with the Royal Bermuda Yacht Club to make the First Annual Festival of Sail a success.
“How exciting it will be to have our Bigs & Littles participate as volunteers for this event. Not only will they be giving back to the community that has over the past 30 years supported our one-on-one mentoring relationships, but they will also have the unique opportunity to sail together on the yachts during their time in harbour. What a wonderful and memorable experience this will be for them!” Somers Cooper, the Bermuda Sailing Association President and Past Commodore of the RBYC added, “The Bermuda Sailing Association as the governing body of the sport of Sailing in Bermuda applauds the Royal Bermuda Yacht Club and title sponsor Argo Group for their plans to improve the Bermuda Gold Cup and especially for including the local community-at-large during the Festival of Sail which will positively enhance the exposure of sailing in Bermuda.
“The BSA supports this initiative,” Cooper continued. “One of our mandates is to introduce, promote and help provide access to the sport, eliminating or reducing the barriers that exist in a typically expensive sport. We already have a number of programmes for youths including the National Sailing
Programme during the summer and the WaterWise programme, which is incorporated into the school curriculum for many Government Middle School Year 1 students during their Spring Term. But for those of us who haven't been in Middle School in the last 5 years, the Festival of Sail will offer a unique opportunity using the colourful and exciting backdrop of the world class Bermuda Gold Cup.
“Bermudians have excelled on the world stage for years as sailors and as race organizers. We have a fantastic reputation around the world,” Cooper concluded. “The exhaustive efforts by the organizers and support of the sponsors of the Bermuda Gold Cup will solidify and reinforce this reputation. We thank the RBYC and Argo Group for allowing the BSA to partner in what I am sure will be a great success for the yacht club, the sponsors, the community and the sport of sailing in Bermuda.”
About The King Edward VII Gold Cup: http://www.bermudagoldcup.com
Stage 8 of the World Match Race Tour
The King Edward VII Gold Cup, now stage 8 of the World Match Race Tour sailed for the match-racing world championship, is the oldest match-racing competition in the world for one-design yachts. The trophy presented to the winning team was originally given at the Tri-Centenary Regatta at Jamestown, Virginia, in 1907 by King Edward VII in commemoration of the 300th Anniversary of the first permanent settlement in America. C. Sherman Hoyt, a renowned American sailor, won the regatta and was presented with this now historic cup.
Through the years Bermuda has won the Cup 21 times, the United States 17 times, New Zealand 10 times, Australia 5 times, the United Kingdom 3 times, and in 2002 Denmark claimed the King Edward VII Gold Cup for the first time. The 2006 winner was Ian Williams (UK) who defeated a fleet including the 2005 winner, Luna Rosa Skipper James Spithill, who in that year had shut out Russell Coutts’ incredible string of wins. Mathieu Richard of France became the third consecutive first-time winner of the King Edward VII Gold Cup in 2007.
The King Edward VII Gold Cup is the 8th out of 9 events on the 2008 World Match Race Tour’s World Championship schedule. It is sailed in Hamilton Harbour adjacent to the Royal Bermuda Yacht Club. The venue brings world-class match racing close to shore where spectators can easily see the competition.
The 24 invited crews including two winners of qualifying events will be divided into three groups of 8 to sail a round robin elimination series Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. The leading 8 skippers go on to the Quarter and Semi Finals, to be sailed on Friday and Saturday respectively.
The Finals take place on Sunday with the top two teams in a “Knockout” head to head battle and the losing semi finalists in their own “Knockout” Petite Final. Between the second and third races, the course is taken over for the final race of the Renaissance Junior Gold Cup, which will have been underway simultaneously since Thursday in the Great Sound.
The King Edward VII Gold Cup was a founding member of the World Match Racing Tour. The tour is a series of 9 events, which has extensive television coverage and worldwide promotion. The television broadcast of the 2007 event appeared in November on Eurosport, ESPN, Versus Network, the Sky network and other regional broadcasters. This network reaches more than 300 million homes in 90 countries. An exciting summary video of all the tour events can be viewed at http://www.worldmatchracingtour.com
About Argo Group: http://www.argolimited.com
Headquartered in Bermuda, Argo Group International Holdings, Ltd. (NasdaqGS: AGII) is an international underwriter of specialty insurance and reinsurance products in the property and casualty market. Argo Group offers a full line of high-quality products and services designed to meet the unique coverage and claims handling needs of businesses in four primary segments: Excess and Surplus Lines, Commercial Specialty, International Specialty and London. Information on Argo Group and its subsidiaries is available at http://www.argolimited.com
About The Royal Bermuda Yacht Club: http://www.rbyc.bm
The Royal Bermuda Yacht Club is a private Club and is the third oldest club holding a Royal Warrant outside the British Isles. The Royal Bermuda Yacht Club was established on the 1st of November 1844 by a party of thirty gentlemen, consisting largely of officers in the British Army. There are now approximately 850 resident and non-resident members.
About the World Match Racing Tour: http://www.worldmatchracingtour.com
- The World Match Racing Tour is the leading professional sailing series featuring nine World Championship events across the globe.
- The World Tour is sanctioned by the International Sailing Federation (ISAF) with “Special Event” status.
- The World Tour awards over US$1million in prize money.
- Points are awarded at each event culminating in the crowning of the season ending ‘ISAF Match Racing World Champion.’
- Events utilize the same “match race” format used in the America’s Cup with racing taking place in identically supplied racing yachts which places a focus on teamwork and skill.
- Racing takes place close to the shore for the general public to follow the races as virtual on-the-water stadiums.
- Media and television highlights coverage reaches over 500 million households in excess of 90 countries around the world.
- World Match Racing Tour sponsors include Line 7, Pindar, Custom House, Travel Places, Wedgwood and Sail.TV.
For information on the World Match Racing Tour:
Yvonne Reid Force 10 Marketing
Tel: +44 (0) 1590 679613 Mob: +44 (0) 7809 149268
E-mail: [email protected]
Website: http://www.worldmatchracingtour.com
For King Edward VII Gold Cup Media Contact:
Talbot Wilson, Talbot Wilson & Associates, Inc.
Tel: +1 (850)432-8170 Fax: +1 (850)432-8050 Mob: +1 (850)217-7138
email: [email protected]
SKYPE: talbotwilson
For Argo Group Contact
Wendy Davis-Johnson
Mob: +1 441-300-3719 Direct +1 441-278-3719
email: [email protected]
Royal Bermuda Yacht Club
email: [email protected]
Tel: (441) 295 2214 Ex 105
Fax:(441) 295 6361