Baird bound for Bermuda

Alinghi helm to compete in October's famous Gold Cup match race series

With one month remaining to the start of the King Edward VII Gold Cup, Royal Bermuda Yacht Club Commodore Andrew Cox today announced that Ed Baird, the America’s Cup-winning helmsman from Alinghi, has entered the $100,000 match race regatta.

Baird is one of 24 skippers entered in the centennial anniversary Gold Cup, scheduled Oct. 9-14 on Hamilton Harbour. Other entrants include last year’s finalists, England’s Ian Williams of Team Pindar and France’s Mathieu Richard of the Saba Sailing Team. Williams defeated Richard, 3-1, last year in the first Gold Cup final for both skippers.

“Winning the Gold Cup last year is my biggest achievement in sailing and will be until Team Pindar can win the match racing worlds,” said Williams, 30. “I really enjoy sailing in the conditions and the boats in Bermuda, the combination of which makes for really tricky racing. Although it’s easy to blame bad luck for losing, the boats really reward good sailing.”

Williams and Richard are ranked No. 1 and 2 in the ISAF Open Match Race Rankings and the World Match Racing Tour standings.

Baird, who helmed Alinghi’s yacht to victory in the 32nd America’s Cup last July, has entered the Gold Cup for the 13th time. Previously he has placed third overall four occasions, most recently in 2004.

Baird’s not the only America’s Cup helmsman entered in the event. Others include Italy’s Paolo Cian of South Africa’s Team Shosholoza and Sweden’s Magnus Holmberg of the Victory Challenge.

Other returning competitors include Bermudian Blythe Walker who finished third last year, which equaled the best finish by a Bermudian since Gordon Lucas won in 1986. Eric Monnin of Switzerland also returns after placing fourth last year. Sweden’s Bjorn Hansen, fifth last year, and Finland’s Staffan Lindberg, seventh a year ago, are also entered.

The Gold Cup is Stage 14 of 16 of the World Match Racing Tour. The tour champion at the end of the year will be named the ISAF Match Racing World Champion. The winner of the Gold Cup will earn $35,000 of the $100,000 prize purse.

The Gold Cup is the oldest match-racing trophy in the world for competition involving one-design yachts. It was first presented at the Tri-Centenary Regatta at Jamestown, Va., in 1907 by King Edward VII in commemoration of the 300th anniversary of the first permanent settlement in America.

Locally based global insurance companies Renaissance Re and Max Capital Group Ltd. are the Presenting Sponsors of the Gold Cup. The Bermuda Department of Tourism is the Host Sponsor. Primary sponsors include Ace Ltd., Bermuda Premium Spirits, Bermuda Telephone Co., Correia Construction and Oleander Cycles. Supporting sponsors are Office Solutions, Izod, Wedgwood, ECL, The Bermuda IOD Class Association, The Fairmont Hamilton Princess and T2P Productions.