Today's Sailing News 

Match Racing: Bermuda Gold Cup

The first day of racing involving seeded skippers saw winds of up to 20 knots.  It also seeded skippers defeated.

3 of the 8 unseeded teams which advanced to the championship round were winners.

Chris Dickson defeated world champion Dean Barker of Team New Zealand 3-1.  Barker said: "our speed was fine, we were starting reasonably well, and just making silly mistakes around the course."  Murray Jones of the Swiss Challenge defeated Dennis Conner 3-1.  

In the closest series Australian James Spithill came back from 2 races down to beat defending champion Andy Green 3-2.  Of his comeback Spithill said: "The boys didn't give up, we never ever give up, we knew we could do it."

There were 5 seeded skippers who advanced.  4 of them won 3-0.  The 3-0 winners were:  Peter Holmberg over Kelvin Harrap, Peter Gilmour over Neville Wittey, Russel Coutts over Andy Horton, and Magnus Holmberg over Cameron Appleton.  Ed Baird took 4 races to beat Dalton Bergan.

With Coutts and Jones advancing their Swiss based America's Cup challenge was 2-0.  Team New Zealand was 0-2.

On Thursday is the quarterfinals.  The pairings are as follows: Dickson v. Jones, Spithill v. Peter Holmberg, Peter Gilmour v. Ed Baird and Coutts v. Magnus Holmberg.  

Looking for a favorite?  Coutts, Dickson and Gilmour have won this event a combined 9 times.

Head to the Sailing Daily Forum and discuss sailing!

Sign Up For ATWOS
Receive  Sailing news weekly with  Around the World of Sailing 
Enter E-mail address:

 Today's Sailing News 

Leader: LG Flatron

Location: North Atlantic off Puerto Rico.

Best 24 hour run: Save the Childern 204 miles.

Current Conditions: East wind 13 knots.

Forecast: East winds in the 20's.

Match Racing:  Swedish Match Title to Pace

Dean Barkers loss in the Bermuda Gold Cup had an effect beyond the waters of Bermuda.  Barker had to finish 2nd or beter to deny Bertrand Pace the Swedish Match Tour Title.  

With Barker out, Pace clinches the tour title and the $ 50,000 first prize.  Barker will finish 2nd.  

3rd place on the Tour will be decided Thursday.  Magnus Holmberg is 1 point ahead of Peter Gilmour for 1st.  These 2 are paired in the quarterfinals.  The winner of the best of 5 will take 3rd place and move onto the Gold Cup finals.