Three way tie

In qualifying rounds for unseeded skippers trying for a spot in Thursday's Bermuda Gold Cup

With winds gusting up to 25 knots on the Bermuda Harbour in Hamilton, Bermuda, sailing got under way with gusto on Saturday in the Qualifying event for the Investors Guaranty presentation of the King Edward VII Gold Cup. Three teams including Cameron Dunn from New Zealand, Takumi Nakamura of Japan and Elizabeth Kratzig representing the Czech Republic lead the field with three wins and one loss after 23 races were sailed on the day.

Good starts were the key since the boats had to sail without spinnakers due to the 20+ knot gusty conditions. Most boats that won the start stayed ahead for the whole course because downwind spinnaker sailing gives the best chance for passing. Penalties, however, did make a difference.

In Cameron Dunn's match with Ian Ainslie, Dunn got a penalty after colliding with the stern of Ainslie's yacht, but then forced his rival up beyond the upwind mark and was able to make his penalty turn before Ainslie could recover.

John Cutler, standing in for Karol Jablonski (Poland) today, built up an early lead over Nakamura, but then tacked too close and was given a penalty. Closing on the finish line with a three boat-lenth lead, Cutler tried to expunge his penalty right at the last moment, but failed to keep clear of his opponent and got another flag.

Elizabeth Kratzig (Rocketeer sailing Team), the lone woman in the 'open' qualifying event, had an excellent day. She rounded the weather mark behind Alec Cutler the Bermuda National Match Race Champion, but then forced Cutler out past the downwind mark and took the lead.

Kratzig, from Miami, Florida, who is sailing under the Czech Republic colours, said she has a good day and had been helped from a good team made up of Jonathan Farrar, an IOD Champion, Laser Olympic sailor Mark Mendleblatt, Mark Strube and Lenka Smidova.

King Edward VII Gold Cup Unseeded Skippers (with ISAF Open rankings) include:
- Eric MONNIN, #22, (Switzerland)
- Scott DICKSON, #27 (USA)
- Takumi NAKAMURA, #36 (Japan)
- Karol JABLONSKI, #44 (Poland)
- Bill HARDESTY, #52 (USA)
- Rasmus VILTOFT, #57 (Denmark)
- Brian ANGEL #110 (USA)
- Cameron DUNN, #151 (New Zealand)
- Ian AINSLIE, #188 (South Africa)
- Cameron Appleton (New Zealand) #192
- Alec CUTLER, #245 (USA and 2005 Bermuda Match Racing Champion)
- Elizabeth KRATZIG, #363 (USA).

After a practice day on Wednesday for the seeded skippers and for the women's winners who will then move from J/24s to IODs, the real Gold Cup sailing starts with the six unseeded skippers and the two top women from the Virtual Spectator Women's Match Racing World Championship facing the daunting challenge of racing against an awesome field of world-class sailing talent in hopes of reaching the finals. All of the Gold Cup skippers have a chance at winning The King Edward VII Gold Cup and a share of the $100,000 purse.