Bacardi Cup National Match Racing
Championship
Final – Bromby Wins; Barboza and Astwood Gain Entry
in Bermuda Gold Cup
HAMILTON, BERMUDA (September 29, 2002)
– Peter Bromby today won the Bacardi Cup, Bermuda’s
National Match Racing Championship, with a 3-2 victory over
defending champion Adam Barboza. The winner and runner up
of the Bacardi Cup traditionally have their entries paid for
by Bacardi in the Bermuda Gold Cup. As Bromby had already
entered, Barboza and Glenn Astwood, who finished third overall,
will sail as “Team Bacardi” in the Swedish Match
Tour event scheduled at the Royal Bermuda Yacht Club on October
12-20 in International One Design class boats.
Bromby and Barboza advanced to the final
round after winning their respective semi-final round match-ups
this morning. Bromby beat Astwood in three straight races,
while Barboza beat Blythe Walker 3-1.
The final round gave Bromby a chance
to settle a long-standing rivalry against Barboza. In last
year’s Bacardi Cup, Barboza beat Bromby in three straight
races and Bromby was determined to even the score.
“We’ve had this rivalry
between us since we were kids sailing Sunfish,” said
Bromby. “But my team sailed really well today and I’m
very pleased to have won against Adam.” Sailing with
Bromby were Leatrice Roman, Christian Luthi and Kees van Beelan.
Bromby started the first-to-three final
round with a quick win against Barboza, but multiple penalty
situations for Bromby in the next two races gave Barboza two
straight wins.
“We beat ourselves a bit by getting
into some tough situations,” said Bromby. “So,
in the fourth race we sailed more conservatively and tried
not to get worked up as much and it paid off with us winning
that race.”
With both skippers tied with two wins
apiece, the fifth race would decide the overall winner. And
both skippers went for an advantage in the pre-start, but
started even across the line. Flawless boat handling in puffy,
10-15 knot wind gave Bromby the advantage he needed over his
childhood nemesis and the win.
“Our straight line trimming worked
well, particularly our upwind sailing,” said Bromby.
“Our downwind sailing, especially the leeward mark rounding,
needs work, so that’s what we’ll be concentrating
on this week in preparation for the Gold Cup.”
The Bermuda Gold Cup, inaugurated 54
years ago, has developed into one of the strongest of the
star-studded stops on the global nine-event Swedish Match
Tour. The Bacardi Cup has been Bermuda’s own unique
qualifier for this event, giving up-and-comers as well as
tested veterans of match racing a direct shot at making the
cut for the Gold Cup’s qualifying rounds and—if
successful through to the finals--claiming a portion of $65,000
in prize money. For more information, go to www.bermudagoldcup.com
The Bacardi Building on Pitt's Bay Road
in Hamilton is the world headquarters for the Bacardi Group,
known for its 140-year tradition of distilling the world-famous
rum. In addition to sponsoring the Bacardi Cup’ s winner
and runner-up in the Bermuda Gold Cup, Bacardi Brands Bda.
also will host several parties at the Gold Cup for competitors,
families and spectators.
For more information contact Pauline
Copeland at sailingoffice@rbyc.bm or visit www.RBYC.bm
Round Robin scores: Final -- Bacardi
Cup, September 29, 2002
Overall standings
1. Peter Bromby
2. Adam Barboza
3. Glenn Astwood
4. Blythe Walker
5. Paula Lewin
6. Ray De Silva
7. Pete Ramsdale
8. Mike Lewis
Final round (first-to-three wins): Peter
Bromby def. Adam Barboza 3-2
Petit-final round (first-to-two wins): Glenn Astwood def.
Blythe Walker 2-0
Semi-Final Round (first-to-three wins):
Peter Bromby def. Glenn Astwood 3-0
Adam Barboza def. Blythe Walker 3-1
