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By Talbot Wilson- Argo Group Gold Cup Royal Bermuda Yacht Club, October 1, 2011: 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 in the Argo Group Gold Cup. The Group 3 top seed is #1 ranked Ian Williams (GBR) Team GAC Pindar. In the #2 slot on the Tour, Francesco Bruni (ITA) and his Bruni Racing Team sit atop Group 1 and #3 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 #4 and slots into Group 2, Ranked #5 Bjorn Hansen (SWE) Mekonomen Sailing Team lands in Group 1 and #6 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. #7 Mathieu Richard (FRA) French Match Racing Team joins Group 3, Jesper Radich (DEN) Adrian Lee & Partners #8 on the Tour lands in Group 1 and Johnie Berntsson (SWE) Berntsson Sailing Team #9 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.”
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 Francesco Bruni  Torvar Mirsky  Ian Williams |
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 repechage 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.
Biographies of skippers, details for Argo Group Gold Cup and a full schedule for events are posted online at http://www.argogroupgoldcup.com
For more information on WMRT, please visit: http://www.wmrt.com
For more information about the Argo Group Gold Cup, go to http://www.argogroupgoldcup.com
Argo Group Gold Cup Media Contact:
Talbot Wilson, Talbot Wilson & Associates, Inc.
Tel: +1 (850)432-8170
Fax: +1 (850)432-8050
Mobile: +1 (850)217-7138
Email: [email protected]
SKYPE: talbotwilson
Argo Group Contact:
Lisa Scannell VP - Mkting & Communications
Email: [email protected]
Tel: +1 (617) 478 5206
Mobile: +1 (857) 205 9668
Royal Bermuda Yacht Club Contact:
Nicole Butterworth, Sailing Secretary
Email: [email protected] Tel: (441) 295 2214 Ex 105
Fax:(441) 295 6361
WMRT Contact:
Audrey Lakai
Mobile: + 6 012 502 2206
Email: [email protected]
WMRT Press information:
contact Capitalize:
Rupert Hains
Tel: +44 (0) 207 940 1700
Mobile: +44 (0) 7887 993 240
Email: [email protected]
About Argo Group:
Working Together to Serve Specialty Markets
Argo Group International Holdings, Ltd. (NasdaqGS: AGII), is an international provider of specialty property and casualty insurance, reinsurance and managed risk solutions. The companies that make up Argo Group share a firm commitment to working together with our independent agents and wholesale and retail brokerage partners to deliver innovative products for niche markets.
Argo Group clients and shareholders alike benefit from our deep understanding of the markets we serve, our ability to manage through all insurance cycles, our well developed and prudent risk management practices and controls, and our track record of growth and profitability.
Through our operating companies, we offer a comprehensive line of high-quality products and services designed to meet the unique coverage and claims-handling needs of our clients in four business segments: Excess and Surplus Lines, Commercial Specialty, Reinsurance and International Specialty, which includes our Lloyd's syndicate.
At Argo Group, we've built a company with a fundamental purpose of securing the future and a straightforward vision to achieve outstanding results realized together. Organization-wide, our strategy—easy to define and rewarding to deploy—is to grow hand-in-hand with our clients.
About Bermuda
Although Bermuda is an Atlantic island paradise in its own right, many people mistakenly believe Bermuda is part of the Caribbean. In fact, the island rests hundreds of miles north of the Bahamas, a mere 650 miles east of North Carolina. Flights from New York and other eastern US cities are less than two hours. From London, direct flights are about seven hours.
All of Bermuda fits in a cozy 20.7 square miles surrounded by 75 miles of dramatic coastline. Bermuda is famous for hospitality and sparkling pink-sand beaches. Activities include racquet sports, dramatic golfing, spectacular spas, and cultural festivals in all seasons. Of course Bermuda is famous for sailing as a destination for ocean races from Marion, Newport, and Charleston, for Cruising rallies for other East Coast ports and as host to many national and international competitive events. From chic international cuisine in posh dining rooms to conch stew and local Rockfish at a roadside café, we have a taste to please every palate and budget. While Bermudians do value island tranquility, we like to have a bit of fun, too. From swanky clubs to friendly neighborhood pubs, these after-hours establishments satisfy every thirst. Cocktail in hand and warm sea breeze at your back, set sail on one of our evening cruises along our famous coastline.
For details on all the excitement and events Bermuda has to offer, call your travel agent or visit us at www.bermudatourism.com
About the ISAF World Match Racing Tour
The World Match Racing Tour (WMRT) is the leading professional sailing series featuring 8 World Championship events across the globe, sanctioned by the International Sailing Federation (ISAF) with "Special Event" status.
The World Tour awards over US$1.75million in prize money with points awarded at each event culminating in the crowning of the "ISAF Match Racing World Champion". The prize fund includes a US$500,000 overall prize pool for the top nine teams in the Championship.
Events take place in identically supplied racing yachts to place the focus on team work 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 in excess of 183 countries around the world.
For more information, please visit: www.wmrt.com