The Italians take the Argo Group Gold Cup

In five matches, Bruni wins over Ainslie

More...

Light winds on first day of semifinals

Ainslie and Bruni win first matches

More...

Ainslie, Minoprio, Canfield and Bruni in Semi-Finals

Ainslie v Minoprio, Bruni v Canfield

More...

Eight through to quarter finals

Bruni and Williams Top Groups 1 and 2

More...

Tour Card Holders 'All In' for Argo Group Gold Cup

Francesco Bruni, (ITA) Luna Rossa Challenge, will be back to defend his 2013 title. Bruni who had been tactician with the Italian America's Cup Team Luna Rossa won 17 out of 20 races to put his name on the King Edward VII Gold Cup. Visit the islands of Bermuda October 21-26 for the 2014 Argo Group Gold Cup.

By Talbot Wilson

Hamilton BERMUDA, March 30, 2014 – The Royal Bermuda Yacht Club and Argo Group issued 17 initial invitations for Bermuda's 2014 Argo Group Gold Cup. All of the 8 Alpari World Match Racing Tour (Alpari WMRT) Card Holders have told Alpari Tour management that they will sail in Bermuda. Match racing for the King Edward XVII Gold Cup Trophy is scheduled to start Tuesday October 21st on Hamilton Harbour in Bermuda. The finals are scheduled for Sunday October 26th.

Invitations were sent to the top 12 skippers in the current ISAF Open Match Race rankings. This includes the 8 Alpari WMRT Cardholders and 4 others who round out the ISAF leaders group. In addition, invitations went to 3 previous Gold Cup winners from the current America's Cup rosters and another America's Cup skipper who has yet to win the Gold Cup.

Francesco Bruni, (ITA) Luna Rossa Challenge, will be back to defend his 2013 title. Bruni who had been tactician with the Italian America's Cup team won 17 out of 20 races to put his name on the King Edward VII Gold Cup with other America's Cup notables— Russell Coutts, Chris Dickson, John Kolius, Peter Gilmour, Rod Davis, James Spithill and Sir Ben Ainslie. Bruni would also like to take home the winner's $50,000 share of the $100,000 prize purse.

Alpari World Match Racing Tour Announces 2014 Championship Skippers

London, UK (11th March 2014): - The Alpari World Match Racing Tour has today announced the eight Tour Card skippers for the 2014 World Championship series. Defending Tour Champion Taylor Canfield (ISV) leads the line up of the world’s top match racers alongside four-time Tour Champion Ian Williams (GBR), Keith Swinton (AUS), Bjorn Hansen (SWE), Mathieu Richard (FRA) and Phil Robertson (NZL).

Joining the race for the 2014 title is also one of the challenging teams for the 35th America’s Cup, Luna Rossa (ITA).

Francesco Bruni will represent Prada CEO Patrizio Bertelli’s long term America’s Cup challenger Luna Rossa. Bruni, a former Laser, 49er and Star class Olympic sailor, was tactician aboard the Italian team’s AC72 catamaran in San Francisco during the 34th America’s Cup last year. He has now stepped into the driving seat for their match race training. Bruni competed at the Argo Group Gold Cup in Bermuda in 2013, when he triumphed over Sir Ben Ainslie in the final.

Dates set for 2014 Argo Group Gold Cup

Visit the islands of Bermuda October 21-26 for the 2014 Argo Group Gold Cup. It's the penultimate stage of the Alpari World Match Racing Tour 2014.

By Talbot Wilson

At right: Francesco Bruni (ITA) Luna Rossa defeated Sir Ben Ainslie (GBR) BART/Argo Group in finals of the 2013 Argo Group Gold Cup at the Royal Bermuda Yacht Club in Hamilton, Bermuda. Ainslie came back from 2 nil to tie the final. Bruni won the last race and defeated Ainslie 3-2. Photo by Talbot Wilson

Hamilton BERMUDA, Feb 9 - The Royal Bermuda Yacht Club and Argo Group have set the dates for the 2014 Argo Group Gold Cup sailed for the King Edward VII Gold Cup Trophy and a $100,000 prize purse. The penultimate event of the Alpari World Match Racing Tour starts October 21st on Hamilton Harbour in Bermuda.

Twenty teams will enter the fray. Only two of them will reach the final match on Sunday October 26th. After the finals, the last team standing will put its name on the coveted King Edward VII Gold Cup and take the $50,000 winner's check at the prizegiving on the Royal Bermuda Yacht Club terrace.