RenaissanceRe Junior Gold Cup - Denmark’s Christian Spodsberg wins

RenaissanceRe Junior Gold Cup 2014. RenaissanceRe Junior Gold Cup

Two champions: Denmark’s Christian Spodsberg won the Renaissance Re Junior Gold Cup and Sweden's Johnie Berntsson won the 2014 Argo Group Gold Cup. © Talbot Wilson

'The harbour was much more shifty and difficult than I expected and I had to fight my way up to the top mark where I was in fourth' Spodsberg said who won the regatta. 'On the next rounding, through the gate, I was in first so that was very good. It was a great time here overall.'

Bermudians placed well in the overall regatta with Adam Larson, 13, holding on to his second place with 53 points. Larson sailed very well this week and also earned the award for top Bermudian sailor.

'Going into this regatta, my goal was to be top Bermudian sailor,' Larson said. 'In the past, the top Bermudian was not in the top three. To finish in second place in Bermuda is a really, really big thing for me. I feel really good about how I sailed this week.'

Third place went to Brazil's Joao Emilio Vasconcello with 54 points. He is a tall boy who sailed well in both heavy breeze and super light conditions. 'I appreciate the opportunity I had to sail in this regatta,' Vasconcellos said. 'This island is beautiful. I particularly want to say a special thank you to Dede Cooper and Susan Smith.'

The top female finisher award went to Julia Szmit of Poland, who finished in ninth place overall. 'On the last race I had a bad start but as it was lighter breezes and I am from the lakes it started to feel very familiar to me. I think sailing here on the harbour is a bit more like the lakes I sail in Poland.'

One of the key factors of this regatta is that although the competitors may arrive as shy young teenagers, they quickly form friendships that endure and grow. In the case of this year’s international and Bermudian group, the Optimist worlds were ongoing in Argentina during this event. Although these competitors narrowly missed a shot at the worlds by a point or two, Bermuda was a fantastic alternative and experience no young sailor would ever forget.

For principal race officer Charles Tatem that is part of the importance of the event. It is also great, according to Tatem, that the sailors here get this kind of exposure.

'Because the kids are getting much more international exposure, it really gives them something to aim for. The top sailors coming here really raise the bar, and the Bermuda sailors also raise the bar for each other.'

Regatta Chairman Somers Cooper reiterated that, 'none of this would be possible without the support of RenaissanceRe who have made this experience a reality for 12 years running. They have allowed us to bring a generation of world-class sailors from around the world to our shores to show our local kids where the bar lies .'

2014 Junior Gold Cup - Final Day Results

Sailed: 10, Discards: 1, To count: 9, Entries: 40, Scoring system: Appendix A

Related Articles

GKSS Match Cup Sweden & Nordea Women's Trophy D5
Stage set for Finals showdown in Marstrand With just one day to go at the 2025 GKSS Match Cup Sweden and Nordea Women's Trophy, the stage is set for a thrilling finale in both the Open and Women's classes.
Posted on 4 Jul Sam Goodchild in the Course des Caps
The final phase is full of potential pitfalls Sam Goodchild, the British skipper of MACIF Santé Prévoyance who has been dominating the IMOCA round Britain and Ireland race since the start of the third day, says the goal now is to focus on the complex finishing section.
Posted on 4 Jul 29er Europeans at Lake Garda day 2
Light breeze, boat park buzz and big wins off the water >Day 2 brought lighter winds to Lake Garda, but the energy around the event stayed sky-high.
Posted on 4 Jul Rolex TP52 Worlds in Cascais day 3
French tour de force gives Paprec world championship lead As the Rolex TP52 World Championship passed its midway point today in Cascais, Portugal it is the French underdogs on Paprec, led by ocean racing legend Loïck Peyron, which has taken the overall lead.
Posted on 4 Jul Rolex Fastnet Race IRC One preview
Beyond the French legends there is plenty of international talent with podium potential With 17 editions of the Rolex Fastnet Race to his name, including five class victories along the way and an outright victory in 2015, could anyone bet against Géry Trentesaux doing it again?
Posted on 4 Jul International Moth Worlds begin this weekend
Pre-Worlds are under way at Malcesine From 6 to 13 July 2025, the 2025 Moth World Championship officially gets under way, hosted by Fraglia Vela Malcesine and preceded by the Pre-Worlds on 4 and 5 July. The event marks the culmination of three weeks entirely dedicated to foiling.
Posted on 4 Jul K-Challenge gives opinion on proposed Protocol
Why the 38th edition could usher in a new era for the America's Cup Stephan Kandler and Bruno Dubois, Co-CEOs of K-Challenge, jointly stated: “The provisional Protocol published on 23 May 2025 by Defender Emirates Team New Zealand is an important step forward for the America's Cup."
Posted on 4 Jul PredictWind to show new race tracker in August
The Ocean Race joins with PredictWind as Official Tracking and Weather Services Supplier The Ocean Race, often described as the toughest test of a team in sport and widely recognised as a leader in impactful ocean health initiatives, and PredictWind, a global leader in marine weather forecasting, are collaborating on a new race tracker.
Posted on 4 Jul ORCV Women's Helm Race changes everything
Rachel Mcguigan charged in—eyes up, hands on, no time to waste Some people drift into sailing. Rachel Mcguigan charged in—eyes up, hands on, no time to waste.
Posted on 4 Jul 2025 Transat Café L'OR is packed with surprises
73 boats sailed by 146 co-skippers will set sail on October 26th 73 boats sailed by 146 co-skippers will set sail on October 26th on the TRANSAT CAFÉ L'OR Le Havre Normandy.
Posted on 4 Jul