Photos/Report: Argo Gold Cup Action Continues
[Written by Talbot Wilson and Laurie Fullerton] Francesco Bruni [ITA] Luna Rossa and Ian Williams [GBR] Team GAC Pindar, both ended the Stage 1 Qualifying matches with 8-1 records in their groups.
By rule, as the top seed in Group 2, Williams got first pick of the skipper he would race in the Quarter Finals. Williams surprised everyone by choosing to race Argo Group Gold Cup defending champion Taylor Canfield [ISV] USone who had finished with a 7-2 score and two days unbeaten in Group 1.
Williams explained his choice by saying that he wanted to go all out to protect his standing on the Alpari World Match Racing Tour. He is currently leading the tour by 9 points over both Canfield and Adam Minoprio [NZL] Team Alpari FX. The Royal Bermuda Yacht Club’s Argo Group Gold Cup is the penultimate event on the Tour.
Ainslie gets the measure of Tiller during final racing:
When asked about this matchup of top skippers, Canfield quipped, “We’re ready… Bring on the challenge.”
The second pick then went to Francesco Bruni who had finished tops in Group 1 at 8-1. He said he didn’t want to follow suit and chose Sir Ben Ainslie [GBR] BART/Argo Group, so he chose Phil Robertson [NZL] WAKA Racing who finished Group 2 at 5-4.
Robertson remarked, “No drama. We’ll take it as it comes.”
Adam Minoprio [NZL] Team Alpari FX who finished Group 1 at 7-2 went next and chose Keith Swinton for a New Zealand-Australia match up. Swinton had to win all 3 of his last qualifying races to make the cut for the quarters.
Commenting on Minoprio’s choice he said, “Fantastic, We’ve been chirping at him all week every time he sailed past us.”
As the last teams unchosen, Bjorn Hansen [SWE] eWork Sailing Team and Sir Ben Ainslie [GBR] BART/Argo Group will sail each other in the quarters. Hansen said it will be good to race Ainslie and his team. “We want to knock him out of the competition.” Ainslie answered, “It will be great racing.”
Slideshow showing yesterday’s [Oct 10] action:
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