Taylor Canfield Sweeps Argo Group Gold Cup Finals

Hamilton, Bermuda (October 7, 2012) – Young US Virgin Islander Taylor Canfield made a big statement of his future Alpari World Match Racing Tour (AWMRT) intentions today, taking a 3-0 victory over Johnie Berntsson at the Argo Group Gold Cup in Bermuda.

Canfield (ISV) Canfield Racing joins a list of previous winners including Russell Coutts (7), Peter Gilmour (3) and Ben Ainslie (2), who each have their names etched on the side of the historic King Edward VII Gold Cup. As a non-Tour Card Holder, Canfield is now looking to appear more regularly at the top table of match racing in the coming years.

“This is the most prestigious event we’ve ever won and to join names like Russell Coutts on the trophy with seven wins, I guess that’s a good goal for us to try and aim at in the next few years,” said Canfield. “Winning a Tour event has always been a dream so this means a tonne to me and the crew, who did so well every day. We’ve put a lot of time and money into getting to this stage and for a young team, this is a great reward.”

Taylor Canfield becomes the second US Virgin Islander to win the event since Peter Holmberg lifted the trophy in 2001. The youngster has competed at the event three times since getting his first experience of Bermudian sailing when competing at the Junior Gold Cup in Opti’s as a youth.

Reigning Tour Champion Ian Williams (GBR) GAC Pindar was eliminated by Berntsson in the Semi-Finals, but rebounded to beat Eric Monnin (SUI) Okalys Corum in the Petit Final. Williams goes into the final event of the season, the Monsoon Cup in Malaysia on December 3-8, as the 2012 season leader. — Full report.

COMMENT: Don Wilson deserves recognition for his creation and support of the Chicago Match Race Center, without which Taylor’s accomplishment would have been infinitely more difficult. Hopefully the first place prize of $50,000 will help Taylor’s team continue their upward trajectory. — Craig Leweck, Scuttlebutt

OPENING ACT: The finale for the 39 Optimists competing in the Renaissance Re Junior Gold Cup was on Hamilton harbor in front of the spectator crowd there to witness the Argo Group Gold Cup finals on Sunday. Securing the victory was Douglas Elmes of Ireland, beating Tomas di Luciano (ARG) and Damian Suri (SUI) who finished second and third respectively. This invitational event attracted 16 international competitors from 15 countries. — Full report.