Governor’s Cup set to sail along Balboa

Bryce Alderton

Thirty-six experienced youth sailors from yacht clubs across the

globe will compete for the 38th annual Governor’s Cup title when the

premier international junior match-race championship sets sail

Wednesday in the waters off Newport Harbor.

Eight teams from the United States, along with squads from Spain,

New Zealand and Australia (two), will comprise the 12-team field in the event hosted by the Balboa Yacht Club.

Newport Harbor and Balboa yacht clubs will be fielding teams,

which will attempt to dethrone defending champion Cruising Yacht Club

of Australia.

Each team of three will race in lightweight, 21-foot sloops, used

for the first time in last year’s championship.

The event runs through Saturday. Racing begins about 12:30 p.m.

Wednesday through Friday and 11:30 on Saturday.

For the third straight year, U.S. Sailing will recognize the

Governor’s Cup, or regatta, as the U.S. junior match-race

championship with the top American team receiving gold medals and

earning an invitation to the international youth match-race series in

New Zealand.

In its 38 years, the renowned event has seen its share of future

world-class sailors, due in most part to a strict criterion race

directors use for selecting teams that wish to compete.

Once a team shows interest in competing, race officials then mail

forms that test a sailors’ knowledge of the sport.

Each team member must then submit a resume detailing sailing

accomplishments. Resumes are reviewed and teams are chosen.

“Seldom will there be a team getting into this regatta for the

first time,” Nick Scandone, general chairman of the event and a

Balboa Yacht Club member for 30 years, said. “These are experienced

junior sailors who have grown up sailing, who have gotten to the top

of the junior ranks. The idea is to get top competition coming to the

event.”

This year, 20 teams submitted applications for the championship,

which causes a buzz every year around the club.

The weeklong festivities Monday, when sailors met their host

families, attended orientation sessions and got in some practice.

Except Monday, sailors are at the docks by 9:30 a.m. each day,

preparing their boats for a day of racing that typically ends at 5

p.m.

“On a yearly basis, this is the club’s biggest event,” Scandone

said. “We not only have to put on the race, but we have to house,

feed and entertain [the sailors]. It’s a 24-hour job over the next

week.”