2012 marks the 10th anniversary of the RenaissanceRe Junior Gold Cup, a highly competitive invitational youth regatta sailed in the International Optimist class. Designed as the youth component of the Argo Group Gold Cup, the event brings over a dozen world ranked international youth sailors under the age of 16 to Bermuda’s shores to help give valuable international racing experience to our local sailors.
The RBYC invites youth sailors from the same countries as the main-draw skippers of the professional Argo Group Gold Cup tour event and then strategically adds nationally ranked sailors from additional countries to give our local sailors “world class” competition. Eleven years ago the concept had immediate support from then RenaissanceRe CEO, Bill Riker. That unwavering support has continued ever since. Organisers from the RBYC and the Bermuda Optimist Dinghy Association (BODA) then set out create this unique mini “world cup” youth regatta.
For the last ten years RenaissanceRe has provided the financial support to help fly the invitees to Bermuda, providing them with charter boats, coaching, meals on the water and entry fees—everything required to compete. The visiting sailors stay with the local families of our youth sailors and sometimes attend school for a day with their new Bermudian friends.
The backdrop of the Argo Group Gold Cup match-racing event running concurrently with the Jr. Gold Cup provides a real bonus for all the kids entered in the regatta. Surrounded by their sailing heroes while at the dock, the young sailors attend the daily press conferences, watch parts of the main event and mix and mingle among the adult professional teams competing.
World-renowned sailors such as Ed Baird, Torben Grael, Dennis Conner, Russell Coutts, Iain Percy, Peter Gilmore, Adam Minoprio and Ben Ainslie have given freely of their time by participating in youth sailing clinics or talks explaining the finer points of sailing and sportsmanship. But it is really the overall experience that makes this event so special for both the visiting sailors and the host families.
Sailors hail from all around the world including countries such as Japan, Singapore, Great Britain, Denmark, Sweden, Portugal, Holland, Australia, New Zealand, Argentina, Chile, Mexico and the Caribbean.The cultural exchange is not just a great learning experience but lifelong friendships are formed as the sailors meet up at future events around the world.
2006 Champion Philip Sparks from U.K. summed it up this way, “I had a good time at the Gold Cup for a few reasons. You stay with one of the families at the Club so you get to see what their lifestyle is like. Also everyone is in the same situation there, so people are especially friendly. The event becomes more than just about the sailing. Also, it is obviously just a wicked place to spend time in.”
This year, invitations were sent out to the Optimist Dinghy Associations of over 16 countries, asking them to send their best sailors. Race organizers will conduct four to five fleet races per day on the Great Sound starting on Thursday, October 4th. The final day, Sunday, Oct. 7th, will see the penulti- mate championship race sailed on Hamilton Harbour during the final rounds of the Argo Group Gold Cup if time and condi- tions allow. The Bermuda Optimist Dinghy Association thanks RenaissanceRe for their steadfast sponsorship of the Junior Gold Cup and for their long-term investment in Bermuda’s sailing future.
Past Winners
2003 Oliver Rihiiluoma (BER)
2004 Frankie Lardies (NZL)
2005 Joshua Greenslade (BER)
2006 Philip Sparks (GBR)
2007 Jes Lyhne Bonde (DEN)
2008 Balder Tobiasen (DEN)
2009 “Nacho” Rogala (ARG)
2010 Diogo Pereira (POR)
2011 Wade Wadell (USA)
