HAMILTON, Bermuda (October 22, 2024) – Bermuda Tourism Authority has renewed its long-standing partnership with the Royal Bermuda Yacht Club to support the 2024 Bermuda Gold Cup (for the King Edward VII Gold Cup) and the inaugural 2024 Aspen Bermuda Women’s Match Race Regatta, both events to run from 29 October – 3 November. This year celebrates the 72nd edition of the Bermuda Gold Cup, a founding event of the World Match Racing Tour, the world’s longest running professional sailing series since 2000.
A hugely popular event with professional match racing sailors from around the world, the Bermuda Gold Cup winner’s list includes some of the most prominent names in professional sailing, including America’s Cup winners Russell Coutts from New Zealand (the Bermuda Gold Cup’s all-time winner with seven championships) James Spithill of Australia, as well as luminaries such as Ben Ainslie (Great Britain), Taylor Canfield (USA), Chris Dickson (NewZealand), Peter Gilmour (Australia) and Ian Williams (Great Britain).
First raced as a match race regatta in 1937, the King Edward VII Gold Cup is the only King’s Cup ever to be offered for competition in the United States. The trophy was first awarded by King Edward VII at the 1907 Tri-Centenary.
2024 marks the first year for the newly created ‘Aspen Bermuda Women’s Match Race Regatta’ featuring eight all-female match racing teams from seven nations. The women’s event will be the final stage of the 2024 Women’s World Match Racing Tour with a US40,000 prize purse.
Hazel Clark, Director of Business Development & Partnerships, Bermuda Tourism Authority commented;
“The Bermuda Tourism Authority is very proud to be partnering with the Royal Bermuda Yacht Club in support of the club’s match racing events. We have long been a supporter of the iconic Gold Cup and we are particularly excited this year to support the addition of the Aspen Bermuda Women’s Match Race Regatta taking place at the same time. These events align with the BTA vision of inclusivity and equality for all, and particularly in women’s sport. We look forward to some spectacular action in the centre ofHamilton Harbor attracting match racing teams from around the world, as well as showcasing the unique beauty and hospitality that Bermuda offers.”
WMRT Executive Director James Pleasance added;
“We are delighted to be back in Bermuda for the 72nd edition of the Bermuda Gold Cup. It is a truly historic event by the Royal Bermuda Yacht Club and one of the most sought after and challenging events to win on the tour. We are very grateful for the continued support of BTA and all this year’s sponsors of the event, particularly this year with the addition of the Aspen Bermuda Women’s Match Race Regatta.”
Visit the Bermuda Gold Cup and World Match Racing Tour websites for more information.
For more information on visiting Bermuda, visit Bermuda Tourism
CONTACTS
Nicole Butterworth, RBYC Sailing Office, sailingoffice@rbyc.bm
World Match Racing Tour media@wmrt.com
ABOUT WORLD MATCH RACING TOUR
Founded in 2000, the World Match Racing Tour (WMRT) promotes the sport of match racing around the world and is the longest running global professional series in the sport of sailing. The WMRT is awarded ‘Special Event’ status by the sport’s world governing body –World Sailing – and the winner of the WMRT each year is crowned World Sailing Match Racing World Champion. Since 2000, theWorld Match Racing Tour and its events have awarded over USD24million in prize money to sailors which has helped to contribute to the career pathway of many of today’s professional sailors. www.wmrt.com
ABOUT WOMEN’S WORLD MATCH RACING TOUR
The Women’s World Match Racing Tour was launched in 2022 to continue the hugely successful legacy of the WIM Series (Women’s International Match Racing Series) providing a global match racing series for female sailors. The name of the series was re-launched as the Women’s World Match Racing Tour with its continued mission to expand and strengthen global match racing and promote opportunities for competitive women’s sailing at every level. The Women’s World Match Racing Tour is the world’s first and only professional sailing series for women providing a valuable pathway for aspiring female world champions in the sport of sailing. womenswmrt.com