Hurricane Gonzalo torpedoed Lance Fraser and his Team Digicel Business team-mates’ Argo Group Gold Cup preparations at the weekend.

Despite losing precious time becoming reacquainted with the classic International One Design sloop, the local team remain upbeat about their chances of improving upon their previous showing at the Alpari World Match Racing Tour event and progressing beyond the group stage.

“Our goal, as it is every year, is to make it to the quarter-finals and then move forward from there,” Fraser said.

“We know that we can sail well enough to compete against everyone in the field.

“And, if we eliminate minor mistakes, we can win enough races to move along.”

Fraser and his team-mates managed three wins at last year’s event which was not enough to carry them into the quarter-finals.

“Obviously it is an extremely high-level regatta and we have to manage our expectations,” the team skipper added.

“But in past years we have been extremely close to qualifying for the quarter-finals and have unfortunately just missed out because of small mistakes.

“We are confident that if we sail our best, we can accomplish our goal and we look forward to having that chance.”

Fraser will compete against the world’s elite match racing skippers with an unchanged crew from last year that includes brothers Jordan and Jason Saints and Nico Stefani.

“This is the first year we haven’t had a new team member sailing with us and we are extremely excited about that,” Fraser said.

“It is also our fourth year under the Digicel Business Match Racing banner and we are very thankful and proud to represent a company that has given so much to the sport of sailing at all levels.

“Digicel’s continued support of our team speaks to the firm’s unwavering commitment to develop youth sailing in Bermuda.”

The Gold Cup will feature all of the eight AWMRT cardholders, which include Björn Hansen (Work Sailing Team), Taylor Canfield (US One Sailing Team), David Gilmour (Team Gilmour), Mathieu Richard (Luna Jets), Phil Robertson (WAKA Racing Team), Keith Swinton (Alpari Team FX), Ian Williams (Team GAC Pindar) and Bruni, the defending champion. The regatta, which will be held in Hamilton Harbour from October 22 to 26, will also feature ten of the top 12 ranked ISAF skippers.

“This year we have all of the tour card holders, a few America’s Cup teams and some very high ranked wild cards,” Fraser said.

“That is obviously a very impressive line-up but that is expected given it is the AWMRT and the Argo Group Gold Cup.

“As we see every year, anything can happen in any given race so we are looking forward to taking each race as it comes and competing to the best of our abilities.”

Fraser is one of two local skippers competing in the Gold Cup, the other being Somers Kempe, the national IOD champion and Royal Bermuda Yacht Club commodore.