Despite the late withdrawal of top ranked World Match Race Tour skipper Paolo Cian, Royal Bermuda Yacht Club (RBYC) commodore Ralph Richardson still believes this year's King Edward VII Gold Cup will be one of the "most exciting" in recent memory.

Italian Cian, who is currently ranked third in the International Sailing Federation (ISAF) World Match Race Open rankings, pulled out of next month's sailing spectacle due to other sailing commitments.

"We understand that as skipper of South Africa's first America's Cup entry, Team Shosholoza, he (Cian) has had to make adjustments to his schedule as he must be in Trieste October 12 to compete," RBYC commodore Richardson explained.

Australian Keith Swinton will now compete in the International Sailing Federation (ISAF) sanctioned event in the Italian's absence. Russian Evgeny Neugodnikov has also withdrawn and a replacement for him is expected to be announced soon.

Richardson added: "The Royal Bermuda Yacht Club has a full slate of participants in this year's King Edward VII Gold Cup event and, as is often the case, skippers develop conflicts and are sometimes forced to withdraw.

"While we are disappointed that Paolo Cian has had to withdraw, we have quite a waiting list and should have no problem replacing.

"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.

"With seven of the top eight ranked ISAF World Match Racing skippers entered this year, the Gold Cup is shaping up to be the most exciting for several years."

Cian is currently seventh overall in the World Match Race Tour points standings and is also the reigning Brasil Sailing Cup and Open de Espagna champion.

The King Edward VII Gold Cup, the penultimate stage of World Match Race Tour sailed for the match-racing world championship, is the oldest match racing competition in the world for one-design yachts.

Reigning Gold Cup champion Richard is currently the top ranked skipper in the ISAF World Match Race Tour rankings.

Sanctioned by the ISAF, the World Match Racing Tour is the leading professional sailing series featuring nine world championship events across the globe in which points are awarded at each event culminating in the crowning season-ending ISAF Match Race Champion.

England's Ian Williams, another past Gold Cup winner, is the current International Sailing Federation World Match Race Tour champion.