Team GBR Victorious at Gold Cup 2008 !!

The Dragon Gold Cup must be one of the toughest, and most prestigious events to win. Six races, and no discard, in a fleet of at least 70 boats; and sometimes even over 100 boats. Winning races is good, but the way to win the cup is to keep posting good consistent results as one bad result could spell disaster.

The Gold Cup itself has been won by the greats including Sir Gordon Smith, Palmquist, Berntsen, Bandolowski, and of course Borreson. Winning the cup is a great achievement, but if you are unsuccessful there is the opportunity of taking home the Nations Cup instead; the Nations Cup is presented to the country with the best 3 results. This year British Sailors not only won the Nations Cup, but brought home the Gold Cup as well. In fact, Team GBR were placed 1st, 2nd, and 3rd; which is unprecedented.

Biggest congratulations must go to Poul Hoj-Jensen, Theis Palm, and Noddy (when will they spell my name correctly) Norden sailing Danish Blue (GBR735). Team Danish Blue won the Gold Cup with 95 points, which is a relatively high score. They achieved the required consistency in this high scoring regatta with their best place 8th, and their worst place 26th. Poul has won the Gold Cup an incredible 5 times now; but he was particularly pleased with this result as it is his first win since the Dublin event in 1997. Poul first won the Gold Cup in 1990.

Jerboa (GBR716) came next with Gavia Wilkinson-Cox, Ron Rosenberg, and Dr. Jon on board. Gavia has been steadily improving, since teaming up with Ron and Jon, but this is by far her best result. Team Jerboa had a disasterous start with a 45th in race 1, but they were not disheartened and put in a marvellous series, ending up 4 points behind Danish Blue. As far as we know this is the best ever result, achieved by a "Doris" in the Gold Cup!

Third was our own IDA Chairman sailing Quicksilver III with Matt Walker and Jonathon Hill. Since acquiring the "nearly new" Quicksilver III this team has gone from strength to strength; and you always felt that Rob was just waiting for the chance to do the big one. Rob finished in a very creditable 3rd, 4.7 points behind Jerboa with a 3rd as best result and a 27th as worst result. Rob was very relieved to finish in 3rd as the event was held in very light and difficult conditions; and 9 boats had a chance of winning the cup going into the last race. Rob managed to keep obtaining consistent results by starting well, sailing free and fast, and finding lanes of clear wind.

Cascais was billed to be a heavy weather event with all the "full on" bulked up crews waiting to show what they can do in these conditions. Unusually it was light and tricky; Cascais does not normally do light and tricky, but it certainly led to an interesting event!

Special mention should be made for Mark Hart and Ed Streeter; both of whom were crewing on Mar (POR42) for Manuel Champalimaud. These guys were leading the event going into the last race. Unfortunately the last race was their worst result and they ended up in 6th; but still an amazing achievement from this 66% British team.

Owen Pay, BDA Chairman