Match Race skipper Johnie Berntsson is certain to climb up the International Sailing Federation (ISAF) world rankings after becoming the first Swedish sailor to win the prestigious King Edward VII Gold Cup in Hamilton Harbour on Sunday.

Berntsson and his crew defeated New Zealand's Adam Minoprio three and one in a tactical see-saw battle before an impressive gathering to complete a changing of the gaurd.

On the way to the final the Swede compiled the best record (6-1) in Group Three during the round-robin stage, ousting last year's Gold Cup winner Mathieu Richard in the quarter-finals and then defeating compatriot Mattias Rahm in the semis to set himself up for a handsome $50,000 payday – and a second win on the ISAF World Match Racing Tour.

Berntsson's previous Tour win was two years' ago in Asia.

Prior to arriving in Bermuda, he and his crew spent time in back home in Sweden familiarising themselves with the International One Designs (IODs) which is the class of choice used for the Gold Cup, the penultimate stage of the World Match Racing Tour schedule.

Evidently it was time well spent as the Swedes rewrote the Gold Cup record books by becoming the first sailors from their country of birth to triumphantly raise the showpiece.

"We have a fleet of IODs back home in Sweden which we practised in before we came here and so I certainly think that helped us a bit here," a jubilant Berntsson told The Royal Gazette after outgunning Minoprio for the coveted title.

To underline his superiority, Berntsson only lost two matches during the entire regatta, one of those losses coming against Bermudian Blythe Walker during the round-robin stage.

"I think we felt as early as the round-robin stage that we had good boat handling and felt very confident in the boat," the Swede added. "After a while our confidence grew and we always felt as though we had a bit of an advantage."

Berntsson reached the quarter-finals last year on his Gold Cup debut where he was ousted by fellow Swede Bjorn Hansen. He is also the second Swede to reach the finals in as many years behind Hansen who failed to progress from the group stage this year.

"We realised that we were a bit better than the others this time around," smiled Berntsson. "I think this is one of the greatest wins because all of these sailors competing here this week are the best in the world and being one of them is really fantastic."

Asked how he felt about being the first Swede to win the Cup, the skipper replied: "It's absolutely great! And hopefully we will get the opportunity to come back next year to defend our title."

Meanwhile, in Sunday's petite final, Britain's Ben Ainslie, who lost to Moniprio in the semis, beat Sweden's Mattias Rahm three and one while Denmark's Balder Tobiasen won the Renaissance Re Junior Gold Cup.

Bermuda's Dimitri Stevens placed sixth overall in the 39-strong racing fleet, followed by Owen Siese (seventh) and Brian Bulhoes (ninth), who was third overall last year.

World Match Racing

Tour Leaderboard

1 Ian Williams (GBR) Team Pindar, 98 points

2 Sebastien Col (FRA) French Match Racing Team/K-Challenge, 92

3 Mathieu Richard (FRA) French Match Racing Team/ French Team Spirit, 87

4 Torvar Mirsky (AUS) Mirsky Racing Team, 53

5 Magnus Holmberg (SWE) Victory Challenge, 51

6 Paolo Cian (ITA) Team Shosholoza, 43

7 Bjorn Hansen (SWE) Alandia Sailing Team, 40

8 Mattias Rahm (SWE) Stena Bulk Sailing Team, 34

Williams still top of

standings – see Page 21