Adam Minoprio's BlackMatch Racing has won the 67th annual Argo Group Gold Cup. The Kiwi crew defeated Keith Swinton's Black Swan Racing from Australia, 3-2, in a dramatic final.
With a southerly wind blowing around 10 knots the crews were racing the width of Hamilton Harbour. That placed the windward mark under the southern shore and in very shifty winds. No lead was safe coming out of the mark and there were frequent lead changes, including the fourth race when it appeared Minoprio would close the deal. But Swinton rebounded to force the final, winner-take-all race.
Minoprio forced Swinton into a poor start that saw the Aussie jibe to starboard at the boat end as the start gun sounded. Swinton trailed all the way around the course and although it appeared he might have one final chance after rounding the windward mark for the final time, it never materialized.
Minoprio wins $35,000 of the $100,000 prize purse while Swinton earns $17,000. In the petite final, Björn Hansen's Nautiska Racing defeated Taylor Canfield's US One, 2-1.