Bermuda No Longer on World Match Racing Tour

Hamilton, Bermuda (June 16, 2016) – The Royal Bermuda Yacht Club announced today that the Argo Group Gold Cup will not be held this year. The decision comes after discussions between the management of the World Match Racing Tour, the RBYC, and the RBYC’s title sponsor of eight years, Argo Group Limited.

Officially known as the King Edward VII Gold Cup, it has been the oldest match-racing trophy in the world for competition involving one-design yachts. Since 1956, the Gold Cup has used the International One Design Class yacht. The 67th annual Argo Group Gold Cup match racing regatta was held October 6-11, 2015.

The Argo Group Gold Cup had been one of the flagship events of the World Match Racing Tour since the Tour started in 2000. However, when it was announced a year ago that Aston Harald, manufacturer of the M32 racing catamaran, had bought the tour, the future of the Gold Cup became uncertain.

As Aston Harald is seeking venues to use the M32 catamaran and/or provide significantly more prize money, it appears that with today’s announcement the Gold Cup no longer had a place on the Tour. The next question is whether the Gold Cup continues on at all.

“With Bermuda playing host to the America’s Cup next year, the focus and energy is on that right now,” said Andy Cox, chairman of the Regatta. “We are looking forward to meeting with Argo Group and its CEO Mark Watson III in the spring of 2017 to plan for upcoming Argo Group Gold Cup Regattas.”

Source: Royal Bermuda Yacht Club