Baird ahead

After a classic first day of racing at the Bermuda Gold Cup

In a classic Bermuda day resplendent with sunshine and a westerly wind around 15 knots, the 59th annual King Edward VII Gold Cup got underway today with three flights in all three round robin groups. The 21 teams have been split into three groups of seven for the initial round robin racing.

America’s Cup-winning helmsman Ed Baird of the U.S. is the only skipper to go 3-0 on the day and leads Group A. He’s closely followed by the event’s reigning champion Ian Williams of the U.K., who’s at 2-0.

In Group B there’s a three-way tie between Johnie Berntsson of Sweden, Staffan Lindberg of Finland and Mathieu Richard of France, each at 2-0.

Group C is led by Paolo Cian of Italy and Daniel Glomb of Brazil, both with 2-0 records.

The top two finishers in each group at the end of the round robin advance to the Quarterfinal Round while the third- and fourth-place finishers advance to a Repechage Round.

Baird, who helmed Alinghi to victory in the 32nd America’s Cup in July, is the only skipper at 3-0 because he’s the only leader who hasn’t had a bye. Each team receives one bye in round robin racing.

“It’s the first time I’ve stepped on a boat since the Cup,” said Baird. “It’s also the first time the four of us have sailed a match race regatta together. We’re just trying to sort it out as we go along.”

Baird is sailing with Alinghi teammates Rodney Ardern, Lorenzo Mazza and Piet Van Nieuwenhuyzen, who all sailed the Cup.

“It was a vintage Bermuda day,” said Ian Williams, the skipper of Team Pindar. “It was lovely wind, lovely sun and good for us because we got two wins.”

Lindberg, sailing in his sixth consecutive Gold Cup, is one of three tied for the lead in Group B. “We started well and did well on the racecourse,” said the tall Finn who is ranked No. 5 in the world. “We had good communication on the boat and good crew work on the racecourse. We’re looking forward to tomorrow.”

Cian is tied with Glomb for the lead in Group C. “Our team is working very well,” said the Italian who helmed South Africa’s Team Shosholoza in the Louis Vuitton Cup last May.

Local heroes Glenn Astwood and Blythe Walker also fared well on Day 1. Walker, who placed third overall last year, is third in Group A with a 2-1 record, which is identical to the spot and record Astwood holds in Group C.

Walker might’ve been at 3-0 tonight if not for a penalty he incurred in his Flight 2 match against Ian Williams, the event’s defending champion. Walker was able to pull even with Williams on the final run, but then got penalised for taking his competitor past the layline to the finish.

Astwood, however, moved to 2-1 after overcoming Brian Angel in their Flight 3 match. Trailing on the second upwind leg, Astwood initiated a tacking duel that eventually allowed him to get to the right of Angel where he found more wind.

“When I’m behind I love to start a tacking duel, so that’s what I did,” said Astwood, who won the Bermuda National Match Racing Championship in August.

The Gold Cup is Stage 13 of the World Match Racing Tour. It 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.

Group A Standings
(After 3 of 7 flights)
1. Ed Baird (USA) Alinghi, 3-0
2. Ian Williams (GBR) Team Pindar, 2-0
3. Blythe Walker (BER), 2-1
4. Alvaro Marinho (POR), 1-2
5. Scott Dickson (NZL) Dickson Racing Team, 1-2
6. Eric Monnin (SUI) Team Monnin, 0-2
T. Peter Wibroe (DEN), 0-2

Group B Standings
(After 3 of 7 flights)
1. Johnie Berntsson (SWE), 2-0
T. Staffan Lindberg (FIN) Alandia Sailing Team, 2-0
T. Mathieu Richard (FRA) Saba SailingTeam, 2-0
4. Jon Eriksson (FIN), 1-2
T. Magnus Holmberg (SWE) Victory Challenge, 1-2
T. Chris Van Tol (USA), 1-2
7. Sally Barkow (USA) Team 7 Sailing, 0-3

Group C Standings
(After 3 of 7 flights)
1. Paolo Cian (ITA) Team Shosholoza, 2-0
T. Daniel Glomb (BRA), 2-0
3. Glenn Astwood (BDA), 2-1
4. Brian Angel (USA) King Harbor Match Race Team, 2-1
5. Björn Hansen (SWE), 1-1
6. Robbie Allam (GBR), 0-3
T. David Tabb (GBR), 0-3

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.