Sir Ben Ainslie and Francesco Bruni draw First Blood in Semis

By Talbot Wilson and Laurie Fullerton

“We got the win today against Taylor” Bruni said “and this is only the second time perhaps that we have met on the race course. He is young and I am somewhat like an older diesel engine and he is like a fast sports car so that is something we are up against.”

Hamilton BERMUDA, Oct 12, 2013 – In the very light and shifty conditions, the Semi Finals were delayed after only one race in each match. Sir Ben Ainslie (GBR) BART/Argo Group defeated Adam Minoprio (NZL) Team Alpari FX in a runaway. Ainslie was masterful in picking his way through the shifts and taking the best of the puffs.

The sole race between Argo Group Gold Cup defending champion Taylor Canfield (ISV) USone and Francesco Bruni (ITA) Luna Rossa went to Bruni by maybe a bow roller. In the three-lap puff hopper, the lead changed on wind shifts, penalties. Then with Canfield in the lead approaching the final windward mark on starboard, he had a windless mark rounding and a slower spinnaker set.

Bruni came rolling up the port tack layline on a good puff for the day, made a gentle rounding and a perfect, quick set. He took the inside on starboard heading downwind. Canfield was ahead, but to leeward. Bruni made gains on the puffs before they moved down to Canfield. Bruni was able to nip Canfield at the finish to take a point. Best to three wins.

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Sir Ben Ainslie will race Adam Minoprio in Argo Group Gold Cup Semi Finals

By Talbot Wilson and Laurie Fullerton

Racing for places 5-8 begins at 10:00 ADT Saturday
Semi Final Racing begins again at 1:00 ADT Saturday.
Semi Final Matches are 'first to 3 points' knockouts'.
Winners will go on to the Finals while Semi Final losers go to the Petite Finals to determine places 3 and 4.

Hamilton BERMUDA, Oct 11, 2013 - As the top finisher in the Group 2 Stage 1 Qualifying round, Sir Ben Ainslie (GBR) BART/Argo Group, who had defeated Bjorn Hansen (SWE) eWork Sailing Team earlier Friday to qualify for the Semi Finals, was first to pick his opponent for the Semi Finals of the Argo Group Gold Cup. Ainslie saying, "its not a nice lineup to pick from, but I choose to race Adam Minoprio."

Minoprio (NZL) Team Alpari FX replied, "We look forward to racing Ben. We sailed against him in the semis two years and missed. We hope to do better."

The other two semi finalists are Argo Group Gold Cup defending champion Taylor Canfield (ISV) USone sailing against Francesco Bruni (ITA) Luna Rossa. Bruni said, "We are just happy to be in the semis." Canfield added, "All the teams are tough."

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Bruni and Williams tops in Argo Group Gold Cup Groups

By Talbot Wilson and Laurie Fullerton

Quarter Final Matches are 'first to 3 points' knockouts'.
Winners will go on to semi-finals, losers go to 5-8 competition to determine shares of the $100,000 prize purse.
Quarter Final Matches: Williams vs. Canfield — Bruni vs. Robertson — Minoprio vs. Swinton — Hansen vs. Ainslie
Quarter Final racing begins again at 10:00 ADT Friday.

Hamilton BERMUDA, Oct 10, 2013 – Francesco Bruni (ITA) Luna Rossa and Ian Williams (GBR) Team GAC Pindar, both ended the Stage 1 Qualifying matches with 8-1 records in their groups. By rule, as the top seed in Group 2 Williams got first pick of the skipper he would race in the Quarter Finals. Williams surprised everyone by choosing to race Argo Group Gold Cup defending champion Taylor Canfield (ISV) USone who had finished with a 7-2 score and two days unbeaten in Group 1.

Williams explained his choice by saying that he wanted to go all out to protect his standing on the Alpari World Match Racing Tour. He is currently leading the tour by 9 points over both Canfield and Adam Minoprio (NZL) Team Alpari FX. The Royal Bermuda Yacht Club's Argo Group Gold Cup is the penultimate event on the Tour.

When asked about this matchup of top skippers Canfield quipped, "We're ready… Bring on the challenge."

The second pick then went to Francesco Bruni who had finished tops in Group 1 at 8-1. He said he didn't want to follow suit and choose Sir Ben Ainslie (GBR) BART/Argo Group, so he chose Phil Robertson (NZL) WAKA Racing who finished Group 2 at 5-4.

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Williams beats Ainslie, keeps perfect run in Argo Group Gold Cup Qualifying

By Talbot Wilson and Laurie Fullerton

Hamilton BERMUDA, Oct 9, 2013 –Ian Williams (GBR) Team GAC Pindar, Alpari World Match Racing Tour champion and current leader on the Tour, had another perfect day in Group 2 racing. He stands undefeated at 8-0.

This morning in the first match of the day, Alpari World Match racing defending Champion and current Tour leader Williams defeated Sir Ben Ainslie (GBR) BART sponsored by Argo Group to hand the America’s Cup hero his first loss since he became the winning tactician aboard Oracle 72 this summer. Ainslie stands 6-1 with two more races scheduled for him. Williams has only one race tomorrow. That’s against Bjorn Hansen (SWE) eWork Sailing Team.

With Williams and Ainslie ahead in the march to the Quarter Finals, three other teams still have their sights on the prize. Pierre Antoine Morvan (FRA) Vannes Agglo Sailing Team has a 5-2 record. Björn Hansen is also 5-2. Phil Robertson (NZL) WAKA Racing is next at 4-3.

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