40th Governor's Cup, Balboa Yacht Club, California, USA

A great performance at the Governor's Cup by the RNZYS Team!

The regatta started on Tuesday with Registration and Briefing, and racing begun on Wednesday.  The team sailed five races beating Newport Harbour Yacht Club & Sandspit Yacht Club of New Zealand but losing to Balboa Yacht Club, CYCA & Royal Perth Yacht Club.  Round Robin One continued on Thursday and the team added another 3 winds out of 4 races to their total.

Governor's Cup Official website

On Friday morning the team completed Round Robin One with two more wins out of two matches.  Friday afternoon the 12 teams were split into two fleets; Black & Orange, the top two teams from each fleet would go through to the semi finals, and the remainder of the teams would go into a fleet racing series.

The guys sailed axtrememly well only losing one race to the Southern Yacht Club to grab a total of 4 wins and qualify for the semi finals.

Also on four wins was Robert Gibbs from the Royal Perth Yacht Club - who only lost one race to us!

Onto the semi finals- and we drew the only American team in the Semi Finals the Annapolis Yacht Club, this team proved very tough and won the first two races to quality for the finals and this left the Squadron team to sail for 3rd and 4th.  The team were very determined and sailed away to win the next two races beating Walker, CYCA and claiming 3rd prize in the regatta!

An awesome job!

The team would like to say a speical thank you to Lowry & Connie Hughes for opening their home to the team and making them feel so welcome - you guys were amazing!

Also Scott Dickson who supported out on the water as well as loaning the team his car for the week (he made the the boys help him move into his new apartment - a fair trade).

And of course BALBOA YACHT CLUB for a fantastic regatta.

The boys would like to espeically thank their coach Guy Pilkington for giving them all the encouragement they need & picking up after them!

The Lion Foundation Youth Training Programme are looking forward to next year already!

RNZYS Lion Foundation Youth Training Programme Team. (L to R) Helm: Phil Robertson, Main: Garth Ellingham, Bow: Michael Thorpe, Coach: Guy Pilkington (not pictured). Photo: Balboa Yacht Club

The RNZYS Team infront of the competiton. Photo: Balboa Yacht Club

RNZYS Lion Foundation Youth Training Programme Team receives their 3rd place trophies. (L to R) Main: Garth Ellingham, Bow: Michael Thorpe, Helm: Phil Robertson Photo: Balboa Yacht Club