The start of the Argo Group Gold Cup, the penultimate stage of the Alpari World Match Racing Tour, has been pushed back a day because of Hurricane Gonzalo.

The Practice day will now take place on Tuesday, and not Monday as originally planned, with racing to start the next day, providing teams arrive and the Island is functioning after the hurricane passes.

“We have advised all of the participants and umpires that we are delaying it by one day in the sense that Monday will now not happen,” Brian Billings, the Argo Group Gold Cup chairman, said.

Teams are scheduled to start arriving on the Island tomorrow, the same day that Gonzalo is expected to unleash its fury on Bermuda’s shores.

“Some people were coming in on Friday, some on Saturday and most people on Sunday,” Billings said. “Those people who are coming in Friday probably won’t be able to so they will have to reschedule. We’ve advised them check with their carriers and make alternate arrangements to make sure they are here for Tuesday’s practice day.”

The local International One Design fleet, the class used for the regatta, have all passed inspection and been returned to their moorings where they will ride out the hurricane.

“Everything seems to be in good shape, we are OK with the ten boats,” Billings said. “The rigging is fine and the boats are all off the yard and on their own separate moorings. Everything is safe and sound and now we have to see what happens to Bermuda on Friday.”

The Gold Cup will feature all of the eight AWMRT cardholders, which include Björn Hansen, of eWork Sailing Team, Taylor Canfield, of US One Sailing Team, Team Gilmour’s David Gilmour, Mathieu Richard, of Luna Jets, WAKA Racing Team’s Phil Robertson, Keith Swinton, of Alpari Team FX, Ian Williams, of Team GAC Pindar, and Francesco Bruni, the defending champion.

The regatta will also feature ten of the top 12 ranked ISAF skippers as well as local skippers Somers Kemp, of Raymarine/Ocean Electronics, and Lance Fraser, of Digicel Bermuda.

The Gold Cup, to be held in Hamilton Harbour from October 22 to 26, will be sailed with the same 20-team format used last year. The format is unique on the AWMRT, as it allows for two ten-team groups.

Skippers in each group are ranked and divided by Tour officials and the organisers at the Royal Bermuda Yacht Club. Rankings in the groups are based on AWMRT and ISAF rankings, and other performance factors.