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Dane takes Bermuda Cup title

Radich and his crew won the final three races to one

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HAMILTON, Bermuda -- Dane Jesper Radich has won the Bermuda Gold Cup, defeating countryman Jes Gram-Hansen and becoming the first Scandinavian to take the title.

Radich's win puts him in second place on the Swedish Match Tour behind Gram-Hansen after four of nine events in the tour.

"We do a lot of racing against Jes and without him I don't think I would have gotten to here," Radich said after he accepted the prize from Royal Bermuda Yacht Club Commodore Les Crane at Hamilton Harbour on Sunday.

The light and shifting wind tested the crews during the final. "In very shifty conditions you'll never win without being lucky," said Radich.

In the first race, Radich's team came out strong and led into the start. Approaching the weather mark both teams looked even until an advantageous shift on the right side of the course gave Radich the boat speed he needed to lead at the weather mark rounding and around the course to the finish.

Down a race, Gram-Hansen started the second race in a more aggressive mode and went on to win.

With one win each, both skippers stepped up the intensity despite the 5 knots of wind on the racecourse. Gram-Hansen was penalised for not keeping clear of Radich's tack. Radich held on to the lead after the leeward mark.

The last race saw Radich charge off the line, but his substantial lead crumbled when Gram-Hansen passed him to the windward mark and around the course.

Less than a minute before the finish Radich caught a breeze and sailed to victory. "We won the race by calling the puffs well," said Radich.

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