Berntsson and crew: Johan Bäckman, Johnie Berntsson, Daniel Wallberg and Björn Lundgren, with RBYC Commodore Ralph Richardson, King Edward VII Bermuda Gold Cup winners 2008. Image copyright Charles Anderson.
In only his second event of the World Tour this year, Berntsson defeated Minoprio in the Bermuda Gold Cup 2008 Final 3-1.
by Dobbs Davis
On yet another spectacular day of match race sailing on Hamilton Harbour, Johnie Berntsson (SWE) and his Berntsson Sailing Team has defeated Adam Minoprio (NZL) and his Emirates Team New Zealand/BlackMatch team in a decisive 3-1 Final for the prestigious King Edward VII Gold Cup presented by Argo Group. This was only Berntsson’s second Tour event this year as a skipper, and for his efforts Berntsson and his team of Johan Backman, Bjorn Lundgren, and Martin Berntsson have won the top $50,000 prize of the $100,000 total purse. The 101 year old Gold Cup trophy was presented by Sir Richard Gozney the Governor of Bermuda.
“This was a fantastic event for us,” said Berntsson, “because not only did I feel we sailed really well, but we also really had fun.” Winning must have certainly played a part in having fun, as Berntsson’s overall win-loss record of 15-3 in this long competition was indeed impressive: on his road to the Finals he led his group of eight skippers on a 6-1 Round Robin record into the Quarter-finals, then beat third-ranked Tour regular Mathieu Richard (FRA) and his French Match Racing Team/French Spirit 3-1. He then defeated fellow Swede Mattias Rahm and the Stena Bulk Sailing Team 3-0 in yesterday’s Semi-Finals before winning today 3-1 in the Finals.
“I’m only the guy holding the tiller, the credit goes to the guys on my team,” said a modest Berntsson. “When I would put us into trouble, it was always my guys who got us out.”
Berntsson and crew cross the winning line to take the 2008 Bermuda Gold Cup at the end of match four of the finals on Hamilton Harbour. Image copyright Charles Anderson.
This trouble included having earned a pre-start penalty in Match Three of the Finals from umpires Sally Burnett (GBR) and Jan Stage (DEN) for not keeping clear of an aggressive Minoprio and his team at the start, but managed to get ahead off the start for an early lead in the match. Minoprio kept the race close, managing to challenge the Swedes for the lead at the second top mark rounding on the three-lap course. After a protracted dial-up well to windward of this mark, the pair broke off, Berntsson tacking to complete his penalty, but ceding the lead to the Kiwis downwind.
But Berntsson never gave up, chasing Minoprio around the track, splitting when the shifts were favorable, and managed to dig back to gain control once again at the top of the third and final beat. This time Berntsson held the lead and even managed to extend slightly to take the series to 2-1, and after having a slight edge off the start in the final match, the Swedes would simply extend and hold this lead all the way to the finish.
Berntsson and his Swedish crew celebrate with champagne on board the IOD. Image copyright Charles Anderson.
In Petit-Final action, Ben Ainslie (GBR) and his Team Origin held off an aggressive Rahm to win the first-to-three point series in three straight matches, using the same smooth style he’s displayed all week with excellent timing and calling of shifts with help from fellow Olympian Iain Percy.
OVERALL RESULTS
1st Johnie Berntsson (SWE) Berntsson Sailing Team $50,000
2nd Adam Minoprio (NZL) ETNZ/BlackMatch Racing $20,000
3rd Ben Ainslie (GBR) Team Origin $10,000
4th Mattias Rahm (SWE) Stena Bulk Sailing Team $7,000
5th Ian Williams (GBR) Team Pindar $5,500
6th Keith Swinton (AUS) Black Swan Racing $4,000
7th Sebastien Col (FRA) French Team/K-Challenge $2,500
8th Mathieu Richard (FRA) French Team/Team French Spirit $1,000
Current World Match Racing Tour Leaderboard (top ten teams)
(After Stage 8 of 9):
1. Ian Williams (GBR) Team Pindar, 92 points
2. Sebastien Col (FRA) French Match Racing Team/K-Challenge, 88
3. Mathieu Richard (FRA) French Match Racing Team/ French Team Spirit, 77
4. Adam Minoprio (NZL) ETNZ/BlackMatch Racing Team, 53
=. Torvar Mirsky (AUS) Mirsky Racing Team, 53
6. Magnus Holmberg (SWE) Victory Challenge, 51
7. Mattias Rahm (SWE) Stena Bulk Sailing Team, 46
8. Paolo Cian (ITA) Team Shosholoza, 43
9. Bjorn Hansen (SWE) Alandia Sailing Team, 40
=. Johnie Berntsson (SWE) Berntsson Sailing Team, 40
World Match Racing Tour
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