Governor's Cup alumni sail in Newport Beach race

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New 22-foot racing sloops show their colorful spinnakers as they catch the wind in the Governor’s Cup Alumni Regatta, as part of the 50th anniversary of the 2016 Governor’s Cup in Newport Beach on Saturday.

(Don Leach / Daily Pilot)

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New 22-foot racing sloops show their colorful spinnaker’s as they catch the wind in the Governor’s Cup alumni regatta as part of the 50th anniversary of the 2016 Governor’s Cup in Newport Beach on Saturday.

(Don Leach / Daily Pilot)

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Racers on the 22-foot sloops break down their spinnakers as they compete in the Governor’s Cup Alumni Regatta in Newport Beach on Saturday.

(Don Leach / Daily Pilot)

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A crew member on the Griffin racing sloop pulls down the spinnaker as they catch the wind in the Governor’s Cup Alumni Regatta in Newport Beach on Saturday.

(Don Leach / Daily Pilot)

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Racers on the 22-foot racing take off from the starting line in the Governor’s Cup Alumni Regatta Saturday in Newport Beach.

(Don Leach / Daily Pilot)

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Racers on the 22-foot racing sloops show their colorful spinnakers as they catch the wind in the Governor’s Cup Alumni Regatta Saturday in Newport Beach.

(Don Leach / Daily Pilot)

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Racers on the Pinkney, left, and Steele sloops compete in the Governor’s Cup Alumni Regatta Saturday in Newport Beach.

(Don Leach / Daily Pilot)

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Racers compete in the Governor’s Cup Alumni Regatta Saturday in Newport Beach.

(Don Leach / Daily Pilot)

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Racers turn into the wind in the Governor’s Cup Alumni Regatta Saturday in Newport Beach.

(Don Leach / Daily Pilot)

By Daily Pilot staff

July 16, 2016 6:50 PM PT

Twelve prominent local and international racers set sail Saturday near the Balboa Pier for the inaugural Governor’s Cup Alumni Regatta.

The regatta, which drew sailors noted for their performance in previous Governor’s Cup youth races in Newport Beach, featured three fleet races on newly built 22-foot fiberglass racing sloops.

The alumni race helped celebrate the Governor’s Cup’s 50th year.

The main event of the Governor’s Cup — five days of youth races — will begin at noon Tuesday between the Newport and Balboa piers. Twelve teams made up of prominent young sailors from across the globe (maximum age 23) will compete on the new fiberglass sloops.

Governor’s Cup alumni sail in Newport Beach race