American Chris Poole and Britain's Christian Hamilton will contest the Bermuda Gold Cup final after contrasting routes through the knockout stages, guaranteeing a first-time winner of the prestigious World Match Racing Tour event.
Chris Poole and Christian Hamilton will meet in Sunday's (18 October) Bermuda Gold Cup final after advancing through the knockout stages of the World Match Racing Tour event on Saturday.
Poole beat Sweden's Oskar Engström 3-1 in the quarter-finals before overcoming Denmark's Jeppe Borch by the same margin in the semi-finals. Hamilton defeated Switzerland's Eric Monnin 3-0 and then edged France's Aurélien Pierroz 3-2 in a closely contested semi-final.
The finalists emerged from a 12-skipper field that included defending champion Johnie Berntsson, who had been seeking a fourth consecutive title. The competition is being sailed in new Fareast 28R keelboats, replacing the event's traditional International One Design fleet.
Poole Looks to Complete Major-Event Collection
Poole, who won Match Cup Sweden for a second time in July, has reached the Bermuda final after previous near misses, including a semi-final defeat to Ian Williams in 2025.
“The Bermuda Gold Cup is what I would call one of the big three on the world match racing tour with Congressional Cup and Match Cup in Sweden,” Poole said.
“We've managed to make the finals of those two and do well with those but this one's eluded me. It's a tricky venue with lots of shifts and I think it's testament to the guys around me on the boat that are keeping me calm and that's what is translating into good boat speed and decision making.”
The American acknowledged that maintaining composure has been an important part of his progress following several exchanges with umpires earlier in the week.
“I've really focused on trying to keep calm and level-headed. Earlier in the week I was a bit fiery and now I'm dialling in the mental focus and getting myself in the right head space.”
Hamilton Reaches Final on Gold Cup Debut
Hamilton's achievement comes on his first appearance at the Bermuda Gold Cup and less than two years into his World Match Racing Tour career.
The British skipper had been among four sailors tied on eight wins in the round-robin stage, securing direct qualification for the quarter-finals. His narrow semi-final victory over Pierroz now gives him the chance to win the King Edward VII Gold Cup at the first attempt.
Irish Match Racing Connection
The Bermuda Gold Cup follows the Tour's recent visit to Dún Laoghaire, where French skipper Tom Foucher won the Dublin Match Cup at the National Yacht Club, defeating Irish skipper Ruairí Finnegan in the final. Finnegan's runner-up finish was his best World Match Racing Tour result.
The Bermuda event is the penultimate stage of the 2026 World Match Racing Tour, ahead of the season finale in Saudi Arabia in November.
