Invitations issued for 2019 Argo Group Gold Cup
by Royal Bermuda Yacht Club 27 Nov 2018 22:15 PST
6-11 May 2019
2018 Argo Group Gold Cup day 4 © Charles Anderson / RBYC
The Royal Bermuda Yacht Club announces that invitations for the 2019 Argo Group Gold Cup were issued today for the match racing regatta scheduled May 6-11, 2019, with a $100,000 prize purse in the offing. The Argo Group Gold Cup is sponsored by Argo Group, an international underwriter of specialty insurance and reinsurance.
Invitations for the King Edward VII Gold Cup, one of the most coveted trophies in match racing, were sent to 12 skippers based on their world ranking and past participation. The fleet will again compete in International One-Design (IOD) sloops on Hamilton Harbour.
"As title sponsor for the tenth year, Argo Group is proud to support this long-standing tradition in Bermuda, attracting the world's best skippers and crews from the match-racing circuit," said Mark E. Watson III, CEO, Argo Group. "Our shared commitment to innovation, teamwork and sustainability makes this partnership a perfect match."
The Argo Group Gold Cup was moved to May from its previously traditional October dates this year and proved very successful with splendid conditions throughout the five days of racing. With the success of the change, organizers decided to schedule the 2019 event for May as well.
Earlier this year Taylor Canfield of the U.S. won the King Edward VII Gold Cup a second time, having previously done so in 2012, and Lucy Macgregor of the U.K. placed fourth overall, the best finish ever by an all-women's crew.
"A big thank you to Royal Bermuda Yacht Club. I love it here," said Canfield, whose victory puts him in company with England's Ben Ainslie, New Zealand's Chris Dickson and Sweden's Johnie Berntsson as two-time winners of the event. "This is one of the most prestigious monohull match race events in the world. Always has been, always will be."
The Argo Group Gold Cup is sponsored by the Argo Group, an international underwriter of specialty insurance and reinsurance products in areas of the property and casualty market.