The Bermuda Gold Cup will adopt a new integrated 12-team format for its 2026 edition as organisers seek to maintain opportunities for elite women match racers amid sponsorship challenges.
The Royal Bermuda Yacht Club (RBYC) and the World Match Racing Tour (WMRT) announced the changes for the historic event, which is scheduled to take place in Hamilton, Bermuda, from October 13-18.
For the past two years, the regatta has featured a dedicated women's event alongside the Open Gold Cup. However, organisers say changes in sponsorship support mean the standalone women's competition will not take place this year.
Island Stage: Bermuda will host the 2026 Bermuda Gold Cup in October, with organisers introducing a new integrated 12-team format that will include invitations for leading international women skippers. Photo: World Match Racing Tour
Instead, leading international women skippers will be invited to compete directly in the Bermuda Gold Cup as part of a combined 12-team fleet. RBYC and WMRT said the revised format reflects their commitment to inclusivity and to maintaining pathways for women competing at the highest level of match racing.
“The Royal Bermuda Yacht Club has prided itself on being at the forefront of supporting the growth of women’s match racing,” said Past Commodore Somers Kempe on behalf of the organisers. “While commercial realities require us to be flexible this year, our core values have not changed. Ensuring that the world’s best female skippers have a prominent place on the starting line in Bermuda this October remains a top priority for us.”
WMRT Executive Director James Pleasance said the tour supported the changes while working towards the return of the standalone women's event. “The Bermuda Gold Cup is one of the most prestigious events on the World Match Racing Tour, and its commitment to advancing women’s match racing has been exemplary,” Pleasance said.
“While the economic climate has presented challenges this year for the Bermuda Women’s Match Race, we support RBYC’s approach to integrate top female skippers into the amended 12-team format for the Bermuda Gold Cup while we collectively focus on bringing the standalone women’s event back to the calendar next year.”
Further details, including the Notice of Race and official schedule, are due to be published in the coming week. Invitations to competing teams will follow shortly afterwards. Interested skippers seeking an invitation have been encouraged to contact the RBYC Sailing Office.
