2011 Notice of Race posted at www.argogroupgoldcup.com
Hamilton, Bermuda, March 23, 2011: Can Ben Ainslie, invited this year as a non-Tour Card skipper and winner of the last two Argo Group Gold Cup regattas, make it a hat trick? The two-in-a-row Gold Cup winner from Great Britain, who is targeting his fifth Olympic medal in 2012, has been invited back to to Bermuda to defend his title in the 2011 Argo Group Gold Cup this October 4-9.
Organizers have offered the British ace the chance to run his string of wins to a historic three-in a-row in this classic match race competition, the penultimate stage of the 2011 ISAF World Match Racing Tour (WMRT). Will Ainslie accept the challenge? Stay tuned.
The Royal Bermuda Yacht Club and Argo Group have posted the 2011 NOTICE OF RACE on line and issued invitations to apply for entry in the 2011 Argo Group Gold Cup. The invitations went first to the nine teams holding 2011 Tour Cards for the nine-stage World Match Racing Tour. Invitations have also been sent to a select group of top level ISAF match race skippers, America’s Cup level skippers and up-and-coming match race sailors. The Argo Group Gold Cup has a unique 24-team format on the WMRT. Along with the Tour Card holders, the winners of two qualifier events in the United States and one in Bermuda qualify for invitations.
Following the April 18 response date for the initial invitations, the selection committee will consider other applications for invitation. The Notice of Race and applications are in
The Argo Group Gold Cup is the penultimate event of the nine-stage World Match Racing Tour. Argo Group International Holdings, Ltd, an international underwriter of specialty insurance and reinsurance products in niche areas of the property and casualty market, returns as title sponsor for the fourth year.
The 24-team format of the Argo Group Gold Cup is unique on the World Match Racing Tour. Nine of the team slots are available for World Tour Card holders, three are selected from qualifying events, the Knickerbocker Cup and the Detroit Cup in the USA, and the Bermuda National Match Race Championship.
The remaining teams are selected by application and invitation from among the top international match-racing sailors on the ISAF ranking list and leading up-and-coming sailors as identified by the RBYC. By having 24 entrants, room is available for young competitors to take on the world’s best match racers.
The 2011 World Match Racing Tour Card holders who have been invited to the Argo Group Gold Cup are #3 match race skipper as ranked by ISAF Mathieu Richard (FRA) French Match Racing Team, Torvar Mirsky #4 (AUS) Mirsky Racing Team, Ian Williams #5 (GBR) Team GAC Pindar, Francesco Bruni # 8 (ITA) Mascalzone Latino, Phil Robertson #10 (NZL) WAKA Racing Team, Peter Gilmour #11 (AUS) YANMAR Racing, Damien Iehl #15 (FRA) French Match Racing Team, Johnie Berntsson #17 (SWE) Berntsson Sailing Team, and Jesper Radich #20 (DEN) Radich Racing Team.
Non-Tour Card holders invited include two time Argo Group Gold Cup champion Ben Ainslie ranked #1 by ISAF and Adam Minoprio, ranked #2 plus eleven other skippers ranked in the top thirty.
In announcing Argo Group’s title sponsorship, Mark E. Watson III, President and Chief Executive Officer of Argo Group said, “Argo Group is proud to return as the title sponsor of the Argo Group Gold Cup match race tournament for the fourth straight year. Racing for the King Edward VII Gold Cup is one of Bermuda’s great traditions. The match race format requires outstanding skill, strategy and teamwork and those same qualities are equally important to our business.”
“While attracting some of the world’s best sailing crews, the Argo Group Gold Cup is a perfect showcase for Bermuda as an outstanding place to sail. Each year, the race itself introduces hundreds of new young people to the excitement of the sport. Sailing promotes self-reliance, discipline and team work in addition to being great fun.”
Watson concluded, “In partnership with the Royal Bermuda Yacht Club, we’re looking forward to making this year’s event one of the best ever. And the Bermuda Family Festival of Sail, which coincides with the finals weekend of the Argo Group Gold Cup, is always a fun event for Bermuda families.”
Commodore Peter Shrubb, a match race umpire himself, thanked Argo Group for its continuing support and said, “Match Racing for The King Edward VII Gold Cup is recognized as one of the classic events on the World Match Racing Tour. It has always been a highlight for sailors and attracts the top sailors in the International Sailing Federation’s and World Tour match race rankings as well as top America’s Cup skippers. In 2008 we introduced sailing to all Bermudans with the first Family Festival of Sail. That will be bigger and better in its fourth year in 2011.”
The prize purse for 2011 will be $100,000, with $50,000 going to the winner. Match racing sailors throughout the world are invited to apply for an invitation by contacting Audrey Pope at the RBYC Sailing Office, [email protected].
In addition to Argo Group, key sponsors include The Bermuda Department of Tourism as official host, Renaissance Re, Guy Carpenter, and AON. Renaissance Re will once again sponsor the Renaissance Re Junior Gold Cup International Optimist Dinghy regatta sailed in Bermuda’s Great Sound and Hamilton Harbour.
Argo Group 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
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:
Audrey Pope, Sailing Secretary
Email: [email protected]
Tel: (441) 295 2214 Ex 105
Fax:(441) 295 6361
WMRT contact:
Capitalize
Rupert Hains
Tel: +44 (0) 207 940 1700
Mob: +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 9 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