Governor's Cup - Ideal Conditions Bring Closer Competition

CORONA DEL MAR, CA. AUGUST 16, 2003. Saturday, as the winds increased for the third day of the 37th Challenge for the Governor’s Cup, so to did the spirits of the competitive young racers. With winds for the better part of the afternoon steadily in the 8 to 10 knot range from the Southwest, the Race Committee successfully completed the remaining five flights of the round robin series on a course set ½ mile offshore between the Newport and Balboa Piers.

With the improved conditions, the competition tightened. With a large spectator fleet observing, starts were more aggressive as the teams engaged in active pre-start maneuvers: luffing, circling, chasing each other around the “start box”, and using the committee boat as a “pick”, keeping the umpires busy. On the upwind legs there were numerous close “crosses” as the competitors fought for the advantage and downwind legs saw several changes in the lead.

Going in to the final flight the United States Merchant Marine Academy was still holding on to the lead with an 8-1 (Won-Lost) record having to face the Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron with a 6-3 record. To insure that the Royal Sydney team would advance to the semi-finals, they had to win this race.

The other match to watch was Annapolis Yacht Club with a record of 7-2 vs. Newport Yacht Club at 5-4. The Cruising Yacht Club of Australia also with a record of 7-2 could only watch, as the eleventh flight was their “bye”.

In the exciting finale of the round robin segment of this series, the Royal Sydney team was successful handing the United States Merchant Marine Academy team only it’s second defeat in this series. The team from Annapolis also prevailed over Newport Harbor Yacht Club thus assuring their position in the Semi-Finals.

After the ties were broken, the final four teams sailing in the semi-finals, in order of ranking are:

United States Merchant Marine Academy 8-2 (W-L)
Annapolis Yacht Club 8-2
Cruising Yacht Club of Australia 7-3
Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron 7-3

For the remaining teams, which will be sailing in the Consolation Round on Sunday, their rankings after tiebreakers are:

Newport Harbor Yacht Club 5-5
Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron 4-6
Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club 4-6
Balboa Yacht Club 4-6
King Harbor Yacht Club 4-6
San Francisco Yacht Club 3-7
San Diego Yacht Club 1-9

As the results indicate, the round robin series has been closely fought. All of the teams have expressed their enthusiasm for the new Governor’s Cup 21’s sailed for the first time this year, particularly in the conditions on the racecourse today.

With more of the same conditions predicted for tomorrow and such evenly matched boats, the Semi- Finals and Finals should prove to be an exciting finish as the top four, closely matched teams, battle it out in the Challenge for the 37th Governor’s Cup

For complete race results, please visit www.balboayachtclub.com

The Governor’s Cup is co-sponsored by Boatswain’s Locker/Yanmar and The Daily Pilot. Additional support has been provided by Quiksilver and West Marine.

For further information contact:

Wayne D. Rodgers
Publicity Director
(949) 675-1355
wdrodgers@mindspring.com