The schedule and format for the 2012 Argo Group Gold Cup has been modified to accommodate a reduced field, The Royal Gazette can reveal.The field of entries for the Alpari World Match Racing Tour event has been reduced from 24 to 21 teams and the format of the qualifying stage altered from three groups and a repechage to two groups, with the top four in each moving into the quarter- finals.The changes came about as a result of two post-deadline team cancellations and difficulty with travel schedules from Europe.In recent years the first stage of the event saw three groups of eight teams fighting for the first six slots in the quarter finals and the final two quarter final slots being filled through a six-boat round robin sail off (repechage).But this year the teams will be divided into two groups of ten and 11 teams determined by Alpari World Match Racing Tour officials and the organizers at the Royal Bermuda Yacht Club based on international rankings and other performance factors. Each group will sail a round robin with their top four teams moving directly to the quarter finals.This year's Gold Cup field includes nine of the top 20 ISAF ranked teams and the two leading Alpari World Match Tour skippers, Bjorn Hansen of Sweden and England's Ian Williams.Hansen currently leads Williams on the 2012 Tour leaderboard by six -points.Representing Bermuda in this year's Gold Cup are Blythe Walker and Lance Fraser.The 2012 Argo Group Gold Cup takes place in Hamilton Harbour October 2-7.