Bermuda Gold cup

oct8 morning sDay 2 at the 67th annual Argo Group Gold Cup sees Group B on the water first to complete the three flights in its round robin. Taylor Canfield’s US One streaked out to a 4-0 lead yesterday with victories over Francesco Bruni’s Artemis Racing, Reuben Corbett’s team, Nicolai Sehested’s Tre-For Match Racing and Bjorn Hansen’s Nautiska Racing.

Canfield has three matches remaining and of those the match in Flight 6 against Adam Minoprio’s BlackMatch team could be key to determining who wins the group. Minoprio trails Canfield by 1 point after winning three of his four matches yesterday.

Once Group B is done Group A will take to the water for the remaining three flights in its round robin. Eric Monnin’s Swiss Match Race Team leads the group with a 3-1 record. The crew put forth a solid performance in yesterday’s strong winds but has three difficult matches against Ian Williams’ GAC Pindar, Johnie Berntsson’s team and Blythe Walker’s Team RenRe.

The Group B standings:
1. Taylor Canfield (ISV) US One, 4-0 – 4 points
2. Adam Minoprio (NZL) BlackMatch, 3-1 – 2.5 points*
3. Keith Swinton (AUS) Black Swan Racing, 2-2 – 2 points
4. Francesco Bruni (SWE) Artemis Racing, 2-2 – 2 points
5. Björn Hansen (SWE) Nautiska Racing, 2-2 – 2 points
6. Chris Steele (NZL) 36 Below Racing, 2-2 – 2 points
7. Reuben Corbett (NZL) Corbet Racing, 1-3 – 1 point
8. Nicolai Sehested (DEN) Tre-For Match Racing, 0-4 – 0 points
(* Penalty assessed for causing boat damage.)

The Group A standings:
1. Eric Monnin (SUI) Swiss Match Race Team, 3-1 – 3 points
2. Ian Williams (GBR) Team GAC Pinar, 3-1 – 2.5 points*
3. Dean Barker (JPN) SoftBank Team Japan, 2-1 – 2 points
4. Johnie Berntsson (SWE) Berntsson Sailing Team, 2-1 – 2 points
5. Phil Robertson (NZL) WAKA Racing, 2-2 – 2 points
6. Chris Poole (USA) RipTide Racing, 1-3 – 1 point
7. Blythe Walker (BER) Team RenRe, 1-3 – 1 point
8. Joachim Aschenbrenner (DEN) Aschenbrenner Racing Team, 1-3 – 1 point
(* Penalty assessed for causing boat damage.)

The top three teams in each group at the end of the rounds robin advance directly to Quarterfinal Round. The teams placed fourth through seventh in each group enter into a repechage round from which the top two also advance to the quarterfinals. The eighth-placed teams in each group are eliminated from further competition.

The wind has veered to the west today from yesterday’s southwesterly direction and the forecast is calling for more manageable conditions than yesterday’s white knuckle sailing. But the threat of thunderstorms could see the race committee force a postponement in the racing if lighting is in the area.