Johnie Berntsson was all smiles after winning the prestigious Bermuda Gold Cup for the third time on Saturday.

The Swedish helmsman, who was winning the event for the first time in seven years, and his team-mates were declared the winners of the World Match Racing Tour regatta based on their unblemished record after strong gales and choppy seas in Hamilton Harbour forced race officials to pull the plug on the final day of racing.

“Before the first time I won, I thought this would be something that I wouldn’t achieve in my life,” an elated Berntsson told The Royal Gazette.

“Winning it once was over the moon for us and winning it a second time I wasn’t sure we vould do it again.

“After Covid I wondered would the event come back at all. Now it’s recovered and we are so happy that we could come here sailing clean, winning all the races and beating the world champion [Nick Egnot-Johnson] and defending champion [Taylor Canfield].

“We are over the moon pleased with the win and I am so proud of the boys and extra proud to have Patrick Sturesson and Herman Andersson, who won a World Tour regatta for the first time. We are really happy how it turned out.”

Berntsson was due to face rival Harry Price, whose team included Bermudian Julia Lines, in the best of five semi-final, with defending champion Taylor Canfield and Ian Williams squaring off in the other.

However, steady 25 knot winds and rough seas prevented any racing with the title being awarded to Berntsson, whose team posted a flawless 11-0 record before Tropical Storm Philippe intervened.

“Of course the feeling of winning a final we didn’t manage to get this time because of the wind conditions” added Berntsson, who pocketed the $25,000 winner’s purse.

“But we are really happy how we performed and not losing any race during the regatta. We felt confident going out there and having a good race would be hopefully be to our favour, but too much wind will damage the boats and we’re happy that the boat owners are providing the boats, so we need to be careful with them.

“I think the race committee made a good decision and I think all of the sailors can agree with that.”

Berntsson now joins an exclusive group of company to have won the prestigious King Edward VII trophy three or more times which also includes New Zealand’s Sir Russell Coutts, Bermuda’s A.F. “Bert” Darrell and US Virgin Islands helmsman Canfield, who took matters in stride after the adverse weather conditions put paid to his team’s hopes of retaining their title.

“I’m obviously disappointed as we always come here to win and have a good time on shore as well,” Canfield said.

“We had a solid push and I think we did have a solid chance at winning.

“Unfortunately, three days of the tropical storm didn’t allow for it but it’s great to be back and match racing again.”

Three-times winner Canfield finished runner-up with two-times champion Williams third and Price fourth based on their overall records in this year’s regatta.

Australian Price, one of the youngest helmsman in the fleet, was making a second straight appearance in the semi-final and is also a past recipient of the Jordy Walker Trophy awarded for the best performance by a debutant.