The countdown is on until the world’s best match-racing sailors return to the island to compete in the Bermuda Gold Cup, the penultimate event of the 2025 World Match Racing Tour championship season before the finale in Shenzhen, China

The top five sailors in the world will be among the eight skippers competing for the prestigious King Edward VII Gold Cup, the oldest match-racing trophy in the world, when the action takes place in Hamilton Harbour from October 21 to 26.

Johnie Berntsson, the world No 3, may be behind American Chris Poole and Eric Monnin, from Switzerland, in the match-racing rankings but he bows to no one in the blue waters of Bermuda.

The Swedish skipper won the event for the second year in a row, and for the fourth time overall, after beating Monnin 2-1 in a titanic final tussle in 2024. The destination of the Gold Cup was decided only 15 metres from the finish when Monnin was given a penalty for what he described after the race as “probably one of our most stupid moves of the season”.

Berntsson is looking forward to chasing more trophies in Bermuda with his team.

“Bermuda is one of our favourite events on the World Match Racing Tour, and for us it’s one of the greatest places on the planet to race in,” he said.

“We have made many friends over the years and love the hospitality culture that seems to reside in the genes of all Bermudians.

"I am fortunate to race with three great sailors in Björn Lundgren, Herman Andersson and Oscar Angervall, who get the best out of the boat and me.

“We love the nice venue and that helps a lot, but it’s never an easy task to win or defend the King Edward VII Gold Cup.”

World No 1 Poole will be looking to add the Bermuda Gold Cup to his glittering CV, but with a stacked field comprising French skippers Ian Garreta and Timothée Rossi, 2024 Open world champion Ian Williams and Peter Wickwire, a multiple winner of the Vrengen Gold Cup at Bermuda International Raceweek, he will have to be at his very best if he is to lift the trophy on the final day.

Alongside the Gold Cup, the Royal Bermuda Yacht Club will also host the Aspen Bermuda Women’s Match Racing Regatta.

This will be the final event on the 2025 women’s tour and comes after the World Championships, which will be held in Chicago from September 17 to 20. That should set the stage for an exciting conclusion to the tour, with the top three skippers in the standings this year confirmed for the event.

Anna Ostling and her Wings team top the women’s tour leaderboard with two regattas to go but, with the 2024 champion Pauline Courtois, of France, hot on her stern and American Nicole Breault still in contention, the storied Swedish team will need all of their skills to secure overall victory.

Ostling has yet to win in Bermuda, but is relishing the opportunity.

“This is one event we have not won yet, but we love the boats and the shifty conditions, so we are up for the task and aiming to perform to our highest level this year,” she said.

“We are usually very good in bigger boats, so I know we have the capability to end on top of the podium. We have IODs in Sweden and will do training back home prior to the event, so we are doing what we can to prepare and can’t wait to come back to the club, the crystal-clear water and all our friends on the island.”

Christian Dunleavy, group president at Aspen, sponsor of the Women’s Match Racing Tour regatta, is delighted that his company is again backing the event

“Regatta racing is about teamwork, precision and resilience – values that are deeply embedded in our company – and we are honoured to be the title sponsor of 2025 Bermuda Women’s Match Racing Regatta,” he said.

“This year’s event celebrates both the amazing talents and determination of woman sailors from all over the world. Aspen’s sponsorship reflects not only our continued commitment to supporting local events globally that inspire collaboration and foster excellence, but also bring communities closer together where we do business.”