Quarter finallists firming up

As Canfield is unbeaten in the Qualifying round of the ARGO Group Gold Cup

With six of the eight Quarter Finalists set at the US$100,000 Argo Group Gold Cup, the penultimate event of the 2015 World Match Racing Tour, all eyes are on the Repechage to see which two crews will join the action slated for Saturday.

At the end of today Chris Steele’s 36 Below Racing from New Zealand and Keith Swinton’s Black Swan Racing from Australia have the edge. They’re each at 2-0 with two of seven scheduled flights completed.

“Today was more tactful, with the wind lighter than yesterday,” said Steele, who’s competing at the Argo Group Gold Cup for the second time. Steele sees his place in the repechage as somewhat unlucky, given that he lost three races in which he had control But he was undone by penalties in each instance.

“I’d rather be assured of a spot in the Quarter Finals, but the Repechage gives us more practice in these boats,” Steele said of the International One-Design sloops. “My crew and I are sailing together as a group for the first time, and these boats are so different to anything any of us sail. The dynamics change with the wind strength. So we’re happy to get the extra practice.”

Besides Steele and Swinton the Repechage also includes two America’s Cup teams, Dean Barker’s SoftBank Team Japan and Francesco Bruni’s Artemis Racing, World Match Racing Tour regular Johnie Berntsson’s racing team (the event’s reigning champion from Sweden), Blythe Walker’s Team RenRe from Bermuda, and two other younger teams – Chris Poole’s Riptide Racing from the USA and Reuben Corbett’s racing team from New Zealand.

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Phil Robertson finished top in Group 1 of Qualifying at the Argo Group Gold Cup © Robert Hajduk / WMRT

Six teams have already qualified for the Quarter Finals, based on finishing in the top three in their respective groups in Qualifying. The teams from Group 1 include Phil Robertson’s WAKA Racing, Eric Monnin’s Team SailBox and Ian Williams’ GAC Pindar.

Robertson has previously finished fourth in 2011. Today he and his crew went 3-0 to overtake Monnin for the group win. He called the Argo Group Gold Cup the hardest event he’s sailed this year.

“We got penalties on two of our opponents and that made it a little easier because we were behind in each race,” said Robertson. “We were getting off the line alright but playing it safe on the racecourse. The left side was a little more favored and we were trying to get there.”

The teams from Group 2 are Taylor Canfield’s US One, Björn Hansen’s Nautiska Racing and Adam Minoprio’s BlackMatch.

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Clean sweep for Taylor Canfield (ISV) US One finishing on top of Group 2 at the Argo Group Gold Cup © Robert Hajduk / WMRT

Hansen, racing in Bermuda for the 12th time, found his footing today after being the last skipper to arrive in Bermuda. He landed Tuesday night after his travel plans from Europe were delayed by Hurricane Joaquin, and had a hasty practice session yesterday morning.

Hansen posted a 4-0 record today to finish second in Group 2 at 5-2. Even more impressive is that his crew has a new tactician this week, Massimo Bortoletto of Italy, who used to sail with Francesco Bruni.

“Massimo is the 100th sailor in our crew since the team was founded in 1997,” said Hansen. “The communication’s been a little difficult since he’s an Italian speaking English in a Swedish crew, but he’s been very calm. Except for when we raced Bruni. Then he was very nervous throughout the race, so it’s a good thing we beat him.”

“He shouldn’t have been nervous,” said Bruni, a past champion who’s now helming for Artemis Racing and standing 1-1 in the Repechage Round. “I’m very rusty at match racing. You can’t just come back after not having done it for a few years. I’m not thinking quickly enough.”

Repechage will resume tomorrow morning at 0900hrs (ADT). Stay up to date with the event as we bring live race action via Twitter on @wmrt_liverace and regular updates on @worldmrt from Bermuda. Follow us on facebook.com/worldmatchracingtour to get the latest news, event updates, behind the scenes and information of the Argo Group Gold Cup.

The Argo Group Gold Cup is sponsored by the Argo Group, an international underwriter of specialty insurance and reinsurance products in areas of the property and casualty market. Additional sponsors include the Bermuda Tourism Authority, Bacardi, Guy Carpenter, RenaissanceRe, Aon Benfield, and the World Match Racing Tour and Match Racing Association.

Repechage (After Flight 2)
1. Chris Steele (NZL) 36 Below Racing 2-0
2. Keith Swinton (AUS) Black Swan Racing 2-0
3. Dean Barker (JPN) SoftBank Team Japan 1-1
4. Francesco Bruni (SWE) Artemis Racing 1-1
5. Reuben Corbett (NZL) Corbett Racing 1-1
6. Johnie Berntsson (SWE) Berntsson Sailing Team 1-1
7. Blythe Walker (BER) Team RenRe 0-2
8. Chris Poole (USA) Riptide Racing 0-2

Final Qualifying results

Group 1
1. Phil Robertson (NZL) WAKA Racing 5-2
2. Eric Monnin (SUI) Team SailBox 5-2
3. Ian Williams (GBR) GAC Pindar 4.5-2
4. Johnie Berntsson (SWE) Berntsson Sailing Team 4-3
5. Dean Barker (JPN) SoftBank Team Japan 3-4
6. Chris Poole (USA) Riptide Racing 3-4
7. Blythe Walker (BER) Team RenRe 2-5
8. Joachim Aschenbrenner (DEN) Aschenbrenner Racing 1-6

Group 2
1. Taylor Canfield (ISV) US One 7-0
2. Björn Hansen (SWE) Nautiska Racing 5-2
3. Adam Minoprio (NZL) BlackMatch 4.5-2
4. Chris Steele (NZL) 36 Below Racing 4-3
5. Keith Swinton (AUS) Black Swan Racing 3-4
6. Francesco Bruni (SWE) Artemis Racing 2-5
7. Reuben Corbett (NZL) Corbett Racing 2-5
8. Nicolai Sehested (DEN) Trefor Match Racing 0-8