American skipper Donald Wilson has been confirmed for next month's prestigious King Edward VII Gold Cup and will face some of the world's elite match race sailors in Hamilton Harbour at the International Sailing Federation (ISAF) sanctioned event.

Wilson is relatively new to the art of match racing, yet in a short period of time has shown immense promise to become a key competitor in the Chicago area, often inviting local and visiting talent to spar with him onboard his pair of Tom 28s.

Since embracing match racing three years ago, Wilson has been a dominant force in the Windy City, winning back-to-back J-105 JPYC Match Race Invitational titles and most recently capturing top honours at the Area E&K USMRC Qualifier.

The American sailor will compete in next month's Gold Cup with tactician Bill Hardesty onboard. In 2006 Hardesty was a member of Ian Williams' victorious Gold Cup crew.

Last week, Italian Paolo Cian, currently seventh in the World Match Race Tour standings, and Russian Evgeny Neugodnikou withdrew from this year's event that still promises to be one of the "most exciting" in recent memory according to organisers.

Cian is skipper of South Africa's first America's Cup entry, Team Shosholoza, and is currently ranked third in the ISAF Open rankings.

"We understand that as skipper of South Africa's America's Cup entry he (Cian) has had to make adjustments to his schedule," commented Royal Bermuda Yacht Club (RBYC) commodore Ralph Richardson.

Despite the late withdrawals of Cian and Neugodnikou, Richardson anticipates this year's Gold Cup will still be one of the most intriguing in recent years, given some of the world's top sailors are poised to do battle in what is widely regarded as one of the world's top events.

"We are thrilled with the line-up of skippers in this year's event, which, of course, includes the three-time Olympic Gold medallist Ben Ainslie and defending champion Mathieu Richard," added Richardson. "With seven of the top eight ranked ISAF world match race skippers entered in this year's event, the Gold Cup is shaping up to be the most exciting for several years."

Reigning Gold Cup champion Richard of France currently tops the ISAF World Match Race Rankings and is fresh off victory at the St.Moritz Match Race in Switzerland earlier this month where he defeated World Match Race Tour points leader and defending champion Williams 2-0 in the final.

Also competing this year are Aussie Torvar Mirsky, one of the most exciting and promising sailors on the world tour, Sweden's Bjorn Hansen, France's Sebastien Col and Damien Ihel, Switzerland's Eric Monnin, defending World Match Race champion Williams as well as Bermuda's own Blythe Walker who won the Gold Cup petite final in 2006.

Sally Barkow, a two-time Rolex Yachtswoman of the Year award winner, is the sole female skipper competing in this year's event.

Racing will be held from October 7-12, with matches in both the morning and afternoon.