As a result of the cutthroat format which squares off 16 teams into a bracket format with the winners of each first-to-three-points series advancing and the losers going home, four teams are preparing to depart Bermuda today, after just one day of racing in the Bermuda Gold Cup proper.

In Group 1, Swedish Match Tour leader Jes Gram-Hansen of Team Victory Lane was pushed to the limit by American qualifier Mason Woodworth.  It took Gram-Hansen the full five matches to advance.

“Mason and his crew sailed very well and the conditions today were very tricky,” said Gram-Hansen.  “In the final race we sailed to the right, because we thought it was the favored side of the course, and then just stayed away and clear of trouble.”

Also participating in a five-match slugfest were local skipper Peter Bromby of “Team Ace Group” and Sweden’s Bjorn Hansen of the  “GOL Sailing Team.”   After winning the opening match, Bromby dropped the next two to Hansen.  With his back against the wall Bromby and his native crew responded to sail through to Friday’s quarterfinal action.

Also advancing out of Group 1 is the second “Team Ace Group” entry, skippered by three-time Bermuda athlete of the year, Paula Lewin.  Lewin, who advanced to the main draw by winning the inaugural Bermuda International Women’s Match Racing Championship, upset Denmark’s Lars Nordbjaerg 3-1, to continue her successful run this week.

After dropping only one match in the qualifying round, American Andy Horton was the surprise upset of Round 1.  Sweden’s Mikael Lindqvist, 2001 European Match Racing Champion, defeated Horton, 3-0, and as a result, Horton is packing his bags to return to the USA while Lindqvist advances on to the quarterfinals.

“We just had one of those days where we couldn’t connect the dots,” said Horton.  “Mikael and his crew were able to capitalize on all our mistakes – and there were a few of them – and that was it for us.”

In Group 2, no one was sent packing just yet, but four teams are one loss away from leaving tomorrow.  After three flights of racing in the afternoon’s session, Denmark’s Jesper Radich leads American Tucker Thompson of “Team T2 Productions,” 2-1, while Finland’s Staffan Lindberg of “Team Musto” leads Bermudan Glenn Astwood of “Team Bacardi,” 2-1.

Sweden’s Mattias Rahm also enjoys a 2-1, advantage over long-time friend and rival Marie Bjorling of “Team Goteborg Energi”, who like Lewin, advanced to the Bermuda Gold Cup through the inaugural Bermuda International Women’s Match Racing Championships, following a runner-up finish to the local.

Great Britain’s Chris Law and “The Outlaws” staved off elimination by winning their final match of the day against Poland’s Karol Jablonski and “Team MK Café.”  Law now finds himself in a must-win situation for the remaining two flights if he wishes to advance to quarterfinals.

The final two flights of Group 2 Round Robin 1 racing will take place Thursday morning to be followed by the sponsors’ pro-am race in the afternoon.

For all the latest news and results log on to www.swedishmatchtour.com.

Round Robin 1 Results
Group 1

Flight 1

Gram-Hansen def. Woodworth

Nodbjaerg def. Lewin

Lindqvist def. Horton

Bromby def. Hansen

Flight 2
Gram-Hansen def. Woodworth

Lewin def. Nordbjaerg

Lindqvist def. Horton

Hansen def. Bromby

Flight 3
Woodworth def. Gram-Hansen

Lewin def. Nordbjaerg

Lindqvist def. Horton

Hansen def. Bromby

Flight 4
Woodworth def. Gram-Hansen

Lewin def. Nordbjaerg

Bromby def. Hansen

Flight 5
Gram-Hansen def. Woodworth

Bromby def. Hansen

Group 2

Flight 1

Radich def. Thompson

Lindberg def. Astwood

Bjorling def. Rahm

Jablonski def. Law

Flight 2

Thompson def. Radich

Lindberg def. Astwood

Rahm def. Bjorling

Jablonski def. Law

Flight 3

Radich def. Thompson

Astwood def. Lindberg

Rahm def. Bjorling

Law def. Jablonski

Log on to www.swedishmatchtour.com for all the latest news and results.

Source: Shawn Mc Bride