Top-seeded world match racing sailors begin a ‘best of three’ knockout series in Hamilton Harbour, Bermuda this morning as the Investors Guaranty’s presentation of The King Edward VII Gold Cup gets underway. This is the third stop on the Swedish Match Tour.

After five days of racing in the qualifying rounds, eight unseeded teams, including two women’s teams will face off against some of the best known sailors in the world including six time Gold Cup winner and three time America’s Cup helmsman Russell Coutts of New Zealand, Gold Cup reigning champion Peter Gilmour of Australia and America’s Cup helmsman James Spithill of Australia.

In ISAF Match Race rankings and on the Swedish Match tour Ed Baird (USA) is ranked No1 and stands as the top seed. In ISAF rankings, Mathieu Richard (France) is No3, Peter Gilmour (Australia) is No4, James Spithill (USA/Australia) is No7, Staffan Lindberg is No12 (Finland), Bjorn Hansen is No15 and Russell Coutts (New Zealand) is No24. On the Swedish Match Tour, Coutts and Gilmour are currently tied for third after Baird. Lindberg and Richard are 6th and 7th.