WMRT Argo Group Gold Cup - Blythe Walker prepares for battle

by Colin Thompson on 2 Oct 2011 Bermuda Argo Group Gold Cup hopeful Blythe Walker is determined to put his best foot forward this year and reckons that 'anyone is beatable on the day'. The affable sailor has left no stone unturned in his preparation and reckons his chances of success are just as good as any of his world-class rivals.

Walker has been pitted in Group Two that also includes World Match Racing Tour (WMRT) title contender Francesco Bruni and the Scandinavian trio of Bjorn Hansen, Jesper Radich and Staffan Linberg. Italian Bruni currently trails WMRT points leader and past Gold Cup winner Ian Williams by a single point while Hansen also remains thick in the hunt heading into Stage Seven of this year’s Tour.

Walker, who finished third in the 2006 Gold Cup, his best showing to date, is chomping at the bit to once again test his skills against the world’s elite and reckons he’s up for challenge. 'There are no slouches in the group and so it will be interesting,' he said. 'I have never sailed against Francesco before and so I look forward to that.'

'Radich, Hansen and Lindberg are all top Scandinavian match racers. Lindberg is pretty aggressive and has been to the final before, while Radich also did really well here a couple of years ago. I’m glad Berntsson (Johnie) is not there as well. 'But I’m optimistic and it would be nice to have a repeat performance of 2006 or even better. No group is particularly easy or hard and it’s just about how well you sail on the day because anyone’s beatable on the day.'

Sailing with Walker in the International One Design (IOD) Sloop this year are Adam Barboza (main), Somers Kemp (trim and spinnaker) and Blair Simmons (bowman). Kemp and Barbosa sailed with Walker in 2006 when he beat Swiss rival Eric Monnin in the best-of-five Petite Final.

'Each one of the guys are extremely competent in their own right and excellent sailors so it’s just a matter of getting the communication done, ' said Walker. At 43, the reinsurance management software developer is the most senior member on the team.

'I was doing Gold Cups before some of these guys were born,' he smiled. 'I did my first Gold Cup when I was around 18 or 19 and that was back when we sailed in the Great Sound.'

This year will be the first year Walker has sailed in a Gold Cup without one of his biggest fans his late legendary father, B.W. 'Jordy' Walker, who passed away last December. 'I think about him a lot when I’m sailing,' Walker said. 'I’m definitely racing with him in mind this year because he loved it and when we competed and did well it brought him joy.'

That the Gold Cup is what it is today owes much to the dedication and sacrifice of the late sailor and international IOD class president. 'He’s the one who helped transition the Gold Cup to Hamilton Harbor and helped organize the professional circuit (WMRT) and all that stuff,' said Walker. 'The amount of respect he got around the world in match racing circles and elsewhere is pretty high.'

Argo Group Gold Cup website