The RNZYS team receive their 3rd overall prizes, Jamie Dawson, Michael Boucher & David Hazard. Photo: Mary Longpre

RNZYS team in action at the top mark. Photo: Mary Longpre

The RNZYS team racing around the top mark. Photo: Mary Longpre

RNZYS Youth Team 3rd at Govs Cup

By Nancy Mellon, 2011 Govs Cup Publicity Chair

The victorious team from San Diego Yacht Club included the youngest racer in the regatta Nevin Snow as skipper racing with crew Jake LaDow and Jake Reynolds. The team lost only three races in the Round Robin series.The final four teams included Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron, Royal Port Nicholson Yacht Club, San Diego Yacht Club and Newport Harbor Yacht Club.  After the two out of three semi-finals and finals, the results are as follows:

Final Placings
1st San Diego Yacht Club
2nd Newport Harbor Yacht Club
3rd Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron 
4th Royal Port Nicholson Yacht Club
5th Scuttlebutt Sailing Club
6th St. Thomas Yacht Club      
7th Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron      
8th Cruising Yacht Club of Australia     
9th Balboa Yacht Club     
10th Royal Hamilton Amateur Dinghy Club 
11th Royal Yachting Association
12th King Harbor Yacht Club

View the Gov's Cup racing video here
The Semi-Finals for the top four teams began on Saturday. The first place team was able to choose their first opponent from the other three teams. San Diego Yacht Club chose to race against Royal Port Nicholson, so the second place team from Newport Harbor Yacht Club competed against Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron.  NHYC was over at the start, so had to return to cross the line again, falling behind enough that RNZYS was victor. However, since it was the first of the best two out of three races, NHYC was able to compete against them twice more on Sunday, winning both of those races and moving on to the finals. In the final race against SDYC, Nevin Snow was able to cause Chris Segerblom problems at the start, SDYC pulled ahead and could not be caught.  Both Nevin and Chris raced in 2010 and will be eligible to return 2011.
In the other final, RNZYS with David Hazard at the helm, prevailed over Tim Coltman of RPNYC in the battle of the two New Zealand teams.
Only four teams were able to beat the strong SDYC team during the Round Robins. They were the host team of Balboa Yacht Club, led by Ryan Davidson, the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia with Ashleen Rooklyn at the helm, the second place team from NHYC and the fourthplace team of Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron.

For the first year since 2007.....

For the first year since 2007, the finals were between two US teams. In 2007, NHYC and King Harbor Yacht Club competed for the win, with Michael Menninger of NHYC winning. He won again in 2008 as well.
On Sunday, the consolation round started with fifth place team against the sixth, the seventh against the eighth and so on, to determine the final standings in the Regatta. Then the Semi-Finals and Finals were completed, followed by the presentation of trophies at Balboa Yacht Club. The prestigious Sportsmanship Award went to the team from Scuttlebutt. Judge Ryan, the helmsman, a member of SDYC, his middleman, Kevin Laube of Mission Bay Yacht Club, and Caitlin Beavers, of NHYC were the fifth place team as well, just missing being part of the final four since Scuttlebutt Sailing Club and Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron tied for fourth but became fifth after the Round Robins due to tie breakers.
The last race day was another beautiful day, and included the best wind of the week with white caps showing for the first time as the wind held steady at about ten to twelve knots. The spectator boat was very large with representatives from San Diego and King Harbor as well as the local yacht clubs. The spectators were able to keep track of the racing with understanding as long time Gov Cup supporter Andy Rose narrated the racing. Andy won the Gov Cup in 1968, 1969 and 1970, and has competed in many international events since then including the America’s Cup and the Congressional Cup. Balboa Yacht Club is proud to have him.
Information about the Gov Cup is available at www.balboayachtclub.com/govcup ,

nansailor@aol.com sailing@balboayachtclub.com

The RNZYS team L to R: David Hazard, Jamie Dawson & Michael Boucher. Photo: Mary Longpre

The RNZYS team at the Opening Ceremony Photo: Mary Longpre

The RNZYS team in pre-start. Photo: Mary Longpre

The RNZYS team in pre-start Photo: Mary Longpre