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Johnie Berntsson Wins 2024 Bermuda Gold Cup

Harry November 4, 2024

Johnie Berntsson wins for the fourth time Bermuda Gold CupHe retained his title by beating Swiss Eric Monnin 2-1 in the competitive final, where harsh wind conditions prevailed.

A spokesman said: “The Berntsson Sailing Team, comprising Sweden’s Johnie Berntsson and Herman Andersson, Oscar Angervall and Björn Lundgren, won their fourth Bermuda Gold Cup, successfully defending their 2023 title by defeating Switzerland’s Eric Monnin/Capvis Swiss Match Racing Team 2-1 .The final match was held in Hamilton Harbor late yesterday in light and variable winds.

“After equalizing 1-1 in the first two-point final, the winning moment came in the last 20 meters of the third race and Berntsson was narrowly ahead as he took the penalty. In a decisive move, Berntsson successfully forced Monnin to take a penalty, eliminated all penalties and crossed the finish line first to win the title.” Completing the podium are New Zealander Nick Egnot-Johnson and his Knots Racing team.”

“It was a very close race and we knew Eric and his team would be strong in the light wind, so we had to do our best.” commented Berntsson. “It really came down to the last 20 metres; It was a very close race and they pushed us well, but we are very happy with the win!”

Monnin, who had been performing strongly all week, disappointedly thought they were close to victory; “We almost won there and we had to win, but unfortunately we made one of the most careless moves of the season, which hurt a little bit,” the Swiss helmsman said.

The spokesman said: “It was a day of mild and difficult conditions for sailors and race organisers. The race started with a postponement on land to wait for the wind to increase, but when we landed on the water, the race was abandoned several times as the wind direction stabilized. The first race was the minor finals with New Zealand’s Egnot-Johnson/Knots Racing team against Chris Poole’s Riptide Racing team. In the first head-to-head match, Poole took a penalty around the course due to the lighting conditions and Egnot-Johnson crossed the finish line ahead to finish on the overall podium in third place.

“We came seventh last year and third this year, so we are absolutely delighted with this result,” Egnot-Johnson said.

The spokesperson said: “In what turned out to be an exciting final series, Berntsson took his first win over Monnin before Monnin leveled the score at 1-1. The race for match points couldn’t be tighter. Berntsson cleared his penalty just before crossing the finish line to earn his fourth Bermuda Cup victory.

“The 2024 Bermuda Gold Cup saw eight of the best racing teams from around the world compete for the King Edward VII Gold Cup Trophy and US$75,000 prize purse in challenging and varied conditions throughout the week.

“The penultimate event of the 2024 World Match Racing Tour season, the tour now moves to Shenzhen, China, for its season finale from December 10-15.

“Visit Bermuda Gold Cup And World Match Racing Tour Websites for more information.”

Images courtesy of Ian Roman/WRMT.