Governor’s Cup finals on Sunday

Corona del Mar, CA (July 20, 2013) – An Aussie team will compete against a New Zealand team on Sunday for the Governor’s Cup title, the 47th Annual International Junior Match Race Championship.

Sam Gilmour, Chris Smith and Adam Negri of Royal Freshwater Bay Yacht Club, Perth, Australia, were able to defeat the host team from Balboa Yacht Club by winning three races in a row. RFBYC will be racing against Chris Steele, Scott Barnes, and George Brasell of Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron, Auckland, New Zealand. Chris defeated AJ Reiter of San Diego Yacht Club in a close fought series of five races.

SDYC had surprised everyone by ending up in fourth place after the Quarter Final Round Robin even though they had lost all of their races on the first day of racing. AJ said that they had some advice from Nevin Snow who won the 2011 Gov Cup. They changed their mindset and began to work together well.

When Chris Steele, of Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron had to choose which of the 2nd, 3rd and 4th place teams to race in the Semi-Final Knock-out, they chose SDYC. After four tight races, they had each won two. In the fifth race with a freshening breeze, AJ went right and in a classic tacking duel, was able to gain on each tack. They set their spinnaker on the last leg, but it didn’t go all the way up and they lost the final race. So the top two teams from the Round Robin ended up competing again in the Final on Sunday. Two US teams, BYC and SDYC, will compete for third and fourth. BYC and SDYC.

Again the day started with heavy overcast and very light winds. The winds changed often during the day, starting with a southerly, then moving west. The course was set up north of the Newport Pier with observers on shore and on the pier. By the end of the day, the winds freshened and there was a brutal chop. The racers from Newport Harbor Yacht Club, Portland Yacht Club, Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club and the women from Royal New Zealand Yacht Club were able to enjoy the amenities of the Spectator Fleet, since their races were competed on Friday. Trophies will be presented on Sunday afternoon at BYC.

Click here for event details.

On Sunday, live commentary by Andy Rose will be available on the spectator boats. Video link here: http://youtu.be/0lv2iru4P1U

Contact: Nancy Mellon, 714-998-0917, cell 714-292-3664