Back in 1907 to commemorate the 300th anniversery of the first permanent settlement in America at Jamestown, King Edward VII presented the first gold cup to the winner of the celebratory Regatta. His name was C. Sherman Hoyt (I love how Americans do that, I might start calling myself C. Hicago Addick, what do you say?). Anyway after stashing the trophy away in his closet, in 1937 Mr Hoyt presented the gold cup to the Bermuda Royal Yacht Club and an annual event began.

During last week the 60th Edward VII Gold Cup was contested out on Hamilton Harbour just by the Royal Bermuda Yacht Club marina. Races were sailed simultaneously each day between 24 skippers and their crews including British Olympic winner Ben Ainslie.

We were lucky enough to be invited out on a catamaran by one of the sponsors to watch the final on Sunday, the weather wasn't the best but with plenty of boats out watching the action, it was a colourful afternoon. A match race consists of two identical boats racing against each other in a dual around a short course. Blocking tactics are used as each team makes the very best of the wind and currents

Ben Ainslie sadly got knocked out in the semi-final on Saturday and the eventual winner was the Swede Johnie Berntsson, who beat Kiwi Adam Minoprio in a first to three final.