2026 Bermuda Gold Cup Day 1 - Scandinavian duo shine on the opening day
by World Match Racing Tour 15 Oct 22:12 AEDT
13-18 October 2026
Jeppe Borch (DEN) Borch Match Race Team on day 1 of the 2026 Bermuda Gold Cup © Ian Roman / WMRT
Denmark's Jeppe Borch (Borch Match Race Team) and Sweden's Oscar Engström (Team Liros) made a flying start to the 2026 Bermuda Gold Cup, mastering lighter winds in the new fleet of Fareast 28R keelboats to share the lead after a fiercely contested opening day of racing.
With five wins from six matches, the Scandinavian duo emerged as the early frontrunners at the penultimate stage of the 2026 World Match Racing Tour (WMRT), as 12 international teams battled shifting breezes and the challenges of a new generation of match racing boats introduced this year.
For Borch, returning to Bermuda after a two-year absence, the opening day proved as unpredictable as it was rewarding.
"The conditions were tricky and the wind shifts were all over the place, so it was anyone's game," said Borch. "We might as well roll some dice here on shore, but it is great to be sailing. I don't think any of the teams here have yet perfected the new boats with the symmetric set ups, so we can all improve this week."
Borch was equally delighted to return to one of the sport's most prestigious events.
"It's fantastic to be back here in Bermuda. We had to cancel coming two years ago as I suffered a concussion and we couldn't get here last year, so it's very special for us to be back on the island."
The introduction of the Fareast 28R fleet, replacing the iconic International One Design (IOD) boats, has added a new tactical dimension to the historic Bermuda Gold Cup. Modified with symmetric spinnakers specifically for match racing, the boats are providing an unfamiliar challenge even for the world's most experienced skippers.
France's Aurélien Pierroz was another standout performer today, making an impressive Gold Cup debut with four wins from six races to establish himself among the early contenders.
"We're happy with the day and it was a very good start," said Pierroz "It was our first day with the symmetrical set up, so now we know how to manage it and tomorrow we'll keep on doing our best to win the last matches."
Pierroz did find himself in a clash with American skipper Chris Poole in one of the day's most controversial moments.
With Pierroz carrying a penalty approaching the finish, the French skipper completed a penalty turn as Poole closed rapidly behind. A disputed umpire decision over whether the turn had been completed correctly left Poole frustrated after the race was awarded to his French rival.
"We felt that the head of Pierroz's spinnaker was above the gooseneck when he tacked," explained Poole, who believed the umpire signals indicated a further penalty against Pierroz.
Despite the setback, Poole finished the day with three victories and remains in contention for a place in the knockout stages.
"We're happy with our boat speed and how we're starting, so we're going to keep improving on that and trying to engage less with umpires."
With the top four teams earning direct passage to the quarter-finals, Berntsson will be looking to build on the teams momentum when racing resumes on Thursday.
With eight flights and 32 matches remaining in the round-robin stage, the battle for qualification remains wide open as the world's leading match racing teams continue their pursuit of the historic King Edward VII Gold Cup.
Standings after Day 1:
1= Jeppe Borch, DEN 5pts
1= Oskar Engstrom, SWE 5pts
3= Aurelien Pierroz, FRA 4pts
3= Christian Hamilton, GBR 4pts
5= Chris Poole, USA 3pts
5= Johnnie Berntsson, SWE 3pts
5= Pauline Courtois, FRA 3pts
8= Eric Monnin, SUI 2pts
8= Martina Carlsson, SWE 2pts
8= Tom Picot, AUS 2pts
11= Anna Ostling, SWE 1pt
12= Allison Blecher, USA 0.5pt
Racing continues Thursday, 15 October, with the remaining round-robin matches.
See full results at wmrt.com/live-results
For more information, www.bermudagoldcup.com and wmrt.com and follow us on social media channels at @worldmatchracingtour