Johnie Berntsson captured a second Argo Group Gold Cup title in six years in Hamilton Harbour yesterday.

Berntsson and his Stena Sailing team-mates defeated Eric Monnin and Swiss Match 3-1 to pocket the $50,000 winner’s cheque.

The Swedish skipper jumped out to a 2-0 lead to take early control of the first-to-three series but was denied the clean sweep after Monnin won the third match to extend the series.

However, Berntsson would not be denied in the penultimate match, which he seized control of after Monnin was tagged with a penalty for obstructing Berntsson towards the end of the second beat.

Monnin managed to close the gap between the two boats on the final run. But the damage had already been done with Berntsson and team-mates Robert Skarp, Oscar Angervell and Björn Lundgren swapping high fives as they crossed the finish line with Monnin behind their transom.

After being presented with the prestigious King Edward VII Gold Cup, the oldest trophy for competitions involving one-design yachts, Berntsson said: “Winning this is so extraordinary. We have done it once, we never thought we could do it twice. We are so happy that we have been so successful this week.”

Berntsson said that yesterday’s victory was just as special as his first in 2008.

“Winning it once can be a coincidence,” he added. “But doing it twice feels like a confirmation that we still have a good team and are sailing good.”

Despite lead changes and big splits, Berntsson managed to win the first two matches to place himself on match point. It was game on, however, after Monnin won the third match to keep his hopes of winning alive.

Monnin won a tacking duel going into the top mark to sneak inside of Berntsson — who was forced to bear away from the layline to avoid a collision after relinquishing the right of way — and covered his rival the rest of the way.

Monnin appeared to be have all but levelled the series after carving out a three-boat length lead on the first beat in the fourth match. Berntsson kept his cool, though, when it mattered most, taking enough air off of Monnin’s spinnaker attacking from behind on the downwind run to shave his rival’s lead to a boat length at the leeward gate.

The two boats swapped tacks on the second beat until the decisive moment arrived when Monnin was hit with a penalty for tacking too close to Berntsson who had the right of way on starboard near the weather mark.

Taylor Canfield and US One Sailing, the world match racing champions, finished third after defeating Ian Williams and GAC Pindar 2-1 in the first-to-two Petite final.

Bermuda’s Adam Larson earned a place on the podium in the Renaissance Re Junior Gold Cup.

Larson finished second behind winner Christian Spodsberg of Denmark with Brazil’s Joao Emilio Vasconcellos rounding out the top three.

Poland’s Julia Szmit was the top female and ninth overall.