Australia claims 57th Governor’s Cup
Published on July 27th, 2024
Cole Tapper (AUS) representing the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia came back from a 2-0 deficit against defending two-time Governor’s Cup Youth Match Racing Champion winner Jeffrey Petersen (USA) of host Balboa Yacht Club to win the best-of-five finals 3-2 and claim the 57th edition held July 22-27 in Newport Beach, CA.
In the 12-team round-robin stage, they both finished with 20 wins and 2 losses, advancing to the semi-finals. Petersen with crew Daniel Pegg and Enzo Menditto dispatched Josh Hyde (NZL) while Tapper’s team of Jack Frewin and Hamish Vass swept Justin Callahan (USA) 3-0.
Hyde and Callahan then squared off in the petit-final (consolation for 3rd and 4th). This was arguably the best series of the regatta with Hyde and Callahan trading blows in the first two matches, with multiple last-minute lead changes. In the end, Callahan and his crew Trevor Davis, Michaela O’Brien and Spencer Kreigstein prevailed in Race 3, taking the petit-final 2-1.
The first two races of the finals were an epic battle of wits and boat handling between Tapper and Petersen, with multiple lead changes. Petersen won both.
Now 2-0 in a best-of-three finals, Petersen was one win away from a record-breaking third GovCup title. Tapper, however, came back strong showing superb light wind boat speed, and an ability to sniff out the shifts in the light, patchy 5-7 knot south-westerly breeze. Tapper tied the series at 2-2 and had momentum on his side.
In the fifth and final match, Tapper extended an early lead by forcing Petersen left and gaining the favored right side of the course. Indeed, the wind shifted to the right and Tapper went on to win with a proverbial horizon job, taking his first Governor’s Cup title.
The Governor’s Cup is the oldest and most prestigious youth match racing championship in the world. Both Tapper and Petersen have now aged out of the event which is limited to those under 23.
Source: Susan Kenney