Return of the King Edward VII Gold Cup

The Royal Bermuda Yacht Club (RBYC) and Argo Group International Holdings reveal the return of the Argo Group Gold Cup on May 7–12 in Hamilton, Bermuda. The 2018 edition is open to sixteen of the world’s top match-racing teams with racing to be held in the International One Design Class yacht.

Officially known as the King Edward VII Gold Cup, the event has used IODs since 1956, with the last edition of the event won by Adam Minoprio (NZL) in 2015. Teams in 2018 will be competing for a share of the $100,000 purse.

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 in 2015 that Aston Harald, manufacturer of the M32 racing catamaran, had bought the tour, the future of the Gold Cup became uncertain.

As Aston Harald was seeking venues to use the M32 catamaran and/or provide significantly more prize money, it changed the landscape for international match racing, and the Gold Cup was a casualty.

Following the 67th edition in 2015, the decision came to cancel the 2016 event 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. The island territory and sponsor shifted its focus to hosting the 35th America’s Cup in 2017.

The return of the Gold Cup permits the storied history of the event to continue. Past winners include seven-time winner Sir Russell Coutts and two-time winner Sir Ben Ainslie, as well as Chris Dickson, Jimmy Spithill, Ian Williams, Francesco Bruni and Taylor Canfield.

The King Edward VII Gold Cup is the oldest match-racing trophy in the world involving one-design yachts and the second-oldest trophy in match racing.

Event details: https://www.argogroupgoldcup.com/