The 2024 Bermuda Gold Cup kicked off today in exhilarating 18-22 knot conditions in Hamilton Harbour, providing the ideal stage for the world’s top match racing teams to master the challenging International One Design (IOD) racing boats on the penultimate stage of the 2024 World Match Racing Tour.

The eight teams competing for this year’s Bermuda Gold Cup were first to race this morning in the extended six-day event running concurrently alongside the inaugural Aspen Bermuda Women’s Match Race Regatta.

Returning to Bermuda as 2023 defending Bermuda Gold Cup champion, Sweden’s Johnie Berntsson was keen to take an early advantage of his experience in the IOD yachts, and looked in the conditions;

“It’s great to be back here in Bermuda” commented Berntsson “We always love sailing these boats and my crew have been at the top of their game today.”

USA’s Chris Poole, current leader of the 2024 World Match Racing Tour season also had a strong opening day with three straight wins, before meeting Berntsson in the final flight of the morning with a contentious penalty call as the two teams went head-to-head.

After Berntsson received a penalty in the pre-start, Poole appeared to hold sway until the umpires judged he was at fault for failing to give his opponent room.

“I thought we were doing what we were required to do to keep clear,” Poole added. “We were down towards the pin end of the line but didn’t have room to start there and Johnie went for the hook, I started altering and the umpires felt that we took too much room, which we found surprising as you can’t turn an IOD on a dime.”

Defeat left Poole with a 3-1 record on the opening day after wins over Gavin Brady (who was disqualified from the race with a black flag from the umpires for multiple penalties), Nick Egnot-Johnson and Bermuda’s Kelsey Durham.

After his win over Poole supplemented victories against Eric Monnin, Cole Tapper and Hood, the Swedish skipper was understandably delighted.

“We put on a show in that last race after we picked up a couple of penalties, which was bad on me, but we managed to equalise one and then extend to take the penalty on the finish line,” Berntsson said.

Bermudian Durham is representing the island at the regatta and he finished the day on a high by picking up a win over Australia’s Cole Tapper in his final flight.

“I haven’t match raced since 2020” added Durham “so it was great to pick up a win on the first day, especially against the competition that we have here this week with top 20 match racers in the world.”

Racing continues through Sunday 3 November.