Argo Group Gold Cup rookie Peter Miller refuses to be intimidated by the big name sailors he will come up against in Hamilton Harbour this week.Despite his lack of match racing experience, particularly at this level, the Connecticut College senior reckons he can rise to the challenge and rates his chances for success on the surf just as good as any of his illustrious rivals.The Bermudian sailor has been placed in Group Three along with past Gold Cup winners Mathieu Richard and Ian Williams, the current World Match Racing Tour (WMRT) points leader and top ranked ISAF Open sailor.Miller comes into the regatta with two highly impressive third-place finishes at the Oyster Bay Youth Match Race and Oakliff Summer Invitational.He is the captain of the nationally ranked Connecticut College sailing team. And while he predominantly sails dinghies, the 21-year-old guided his alma mata to a third-place finish at the collegiate New England Match Race Championship.Now on the eve of his Gold Cup debut, Miller reckons the pressure will be on his WMRT rivals rather than himself.“The way I see it, they have everything to lose while we have nothing to lose. Usually match racing comes down to the first person who makes a mistake, and hopefully we won’t be the first,” he said.“I think our chances are as good any other’s and names don’t really matter to me because I look at them as just any other opponent. They are not invincible, so there’s potential for them to make mistakes too.”Miller reckons his knowledge of local conditions could work to his advantage on the race course.“I have sailed in Hamilton Harbour quite a bit and I’m used to the shifty conditions and in college we sail in some of the most shifty conditions in the world,” he said. “Protecting the lead while you are ahead and taking advantage of the shifts while you are behind I think is one of my strengths.”Miller, whose father Tom is a past Royal Bermuda Yacht Club (RBYC) commodore, is competing this year with a team lean on experience sailing together.Locals Pete Martin and Hal Kempe will tend to duties on the jib and trim while former college associate Maggie Shae will work on the bow.“This is our first time sailing together but I don’t think it’s a big issue,” Miller said. “I’ve sailed match racing with Maggie before but Hal and Pete will be new additions.”Miller has logged very little time in the International One Design (IOD) sloop but does have reasonable experience match racing in bulkier designs such as the Swedish Match 40s.The Gold Cup rookie gets a thrill from match racing and says he can’t wait to put his budding skills to the test against some of the best in the business.“I’m excited about it because it’s a great opportunity and we are looking forward to racing with the big guys,” he said.Miller is among a trio of local skippers competing in this year’s Argo Group Gold Cup.Also flying the Island’s banner are seasoned campaigner Blythe Walker and teenager Lance Fraser.