Please select your home edition
Edition
Rooster 2025

2014 Governor's Cup - Sam Gilmour of RFBYC victorious again

by Nancy Mellon on 21 Jul 2014
RFBYC SamGilmour, Adam Negri and Storm Brown - 48th Balboa Yacht Club Governor's Cup Youth Match Racing Championship Mary Longpre
2014 Governor's Cup - On the final day of racing, only the top four teams competed, since the other eight teams matches were completed on Friday. The racers from those teams were able to watch the finals in comfort from spectator boats. RFBYC and SDYC each won two races in hotly contested tacking duels, despite the light wind and changing conditions. In the final race, Sam was able to be about seven seconds ahead at the first mark, and prevailed.

The two top skippers have been competing against each other in a variety of events. Both raced in the Gov Cup in 2012 when Nevin placed fourth and Sam fifth. Both have won Gov Cups – Nevin in 2011 and Sam just last year. Last week, they represented their countries at the World University Match Racing Championships in Italy.

Nevin, from Georgetown University, placed first and Sam was second in a field of nineteen from Universities all over the World, each representing their countries. They will be competing against each other again immediately after the Governor’s Cup as they fly to Helsinki, Finland to represent their countries at the first ISAF World Match Racing Championship. Sam Gilmour is listed #19 in the ISAF World Match Racing Rating list. (International Sailing Federation). Each will be 21 years old soon so will have aged out of the Gov Cup.

The racing in the Petit Finals between Chicago Yacht Club and BYC’s Killian started with Christophe winning the first race by almost a minute. In the second race however, he hit the mark as he was entering the starting sequence, so Will was able to keep him away from crossing the line to begin the sequence, ending in Killian being disqualified, so losing the second race. In the third, Christophe handled the starting process perfectly and was able to win that race, so finished in third place, with Will in fourth. These two have competed recently in this year’s Rose Cup where Christophe came in first while Will placed fourth. Each will still be eligible for next year’s Gov Cup. Will is an intern with the Chicago Match Race Center so is gaining great experience. He attends Fordham University in New York City. Christophe has just graduated from Newport Harbor High School and will be attending the College of Charleston next year, where he joins other Gov Cup racers Ryan Davidson, Brandon Folkman of BYC and Jake Reynolds of the SDYC team.

The weather today was quite a contrast to the rest of the week. There was cloud cover throughout the racing with mild winds and light chop instead of the strong winds of the last two days. When it was time for the winning boats to return to the yacht club, escorted by the Harbor Department with horns and spray, the sun broke through. A large crowd gathered to welcome the racers back to the home base. Introductions and the trophy presentations were enjoyed by all. A very special recognition went to the team from Canada of Richard Ninielly, Connor MacKenie and Nicole Johnston when they were voted to be winners of the Chet and Glee Purcell Trophy which is presented each year for outstanding sportsmanship. The Purcells were the founders of the Governor’s Cup in 1967.

Sam was able to beat Nevin Snow of San Diego Yacht Club in the fifth race of their fiercely fought Finals:

1. - Royal Freshwater Bay Yacht Club, Aus - Sam Gilmour, Adam Negri, Storm Brown
2. - San Diego Yacht Club - Nevin Snow, AJ Reiter, Jake Reynolds
3. - Balboa Yacht Club - Christophe Killian, Harrison Vandervort, Jack Martin
4. - Chicago Yacht Club - Will Holz, Clay Danly, Alex Woloshyn
Maritimo M50Sea Sure 2025Doyle_SailWorld_728X90px_GP BOTTOM

Related Articles

Etchells Worlds coming to San Diego
The highly anticipated event is bringing the best of the best from all around the world Next spring, the International Etchells Class will descend upon the waters of San Diego, California for the 2026 Etchells World Championship hosted by San Diego Yacht Club May 7 - May 15, 2026.
Posted on 14 Oct
Sydney to Auckland Ocean Race Day 5
Fleet slows down as breeze lightens The Sydney to Auckland Ocean Race (S2A) is evoking all sorts of emotions aboard the yachts remaining at sea, as conditions go from wild and wet to light and tricky as breakages start to take their toll and New Zealand seems so far away for some.
Posted on 14 Oct
The Winner-Takes-All Race
Event format at the 49er, 49erFX & Nacra 17 Worlds could be the best option for the Olympics The 49er, 49erFX and Nacra 17 World Championships just held in Cagliari, Italy, could well be the most important held in the class. Not just that, it may influence how sailing happens at the Olympics.
Posted on 14 Oct
Vaikobi's top-rated polarized shades
VIZE+ Polarized Ocean Eyewear - lenses made for the ocean environment With lenses made for the ocean environment, Vaikobi's VIZE+ Polarized Ocean Eyewear is too good to look away. But don't just take their word for it... all their polarized sunglasses have been tested and reviewed by ocean frothers all over the world!
Posted on 14 Oct
Thomas Ruyant aims for a three-peat in IMOCA Class
There will be 18 two-handed IMOCAs on the Transat Café L'OR startline The Transat Café L'OR from Le Havre to Martinique, which forms the finale of the 2025 IMOCA season, is now just 12 days away and it's a classic course that has attracted a stellar field.
Posted on 14 Oct
A Q&A with Chris Alexander on the 2025 VX One NAs
Chris Alexander on the 2025 VX One North American Championship This year's VX One North American Championship will be hosted by the Gulfport Yacht Club, in Gulfport, Mississippi from October 16-18, and will feature eleven scheduled races on the waters of the Mississippi Sound, near the GYC.
Posted on 14 Oct
All change in the Endeavour Trophy
A dramatic twist in the results after a request for redress was reopened by the Protest Committee The 64th Endeavour Trophy has seen a dramatic twist in the results after a request for redress was reopened by the Protest Committee when they realised that a significant error may have been made at the initial hearing.
Posted on 14 Oct
Manly 16s Club Championship Heat 3
Crazy doesn't begin to explain the finish Crazy doesn't begin to explain the finish to third heat of Manly's club championship on Saturday.
Posted on 14 Oct
Macif renews its commitment to ocean racing
A new IMOCA program 2027-2030 with Sam Goodchild as skipper Macif announces the continuation of its commitment to ocean racing with an ambitious project that will begin in 2027 and end in 2030. The IMOCA MACIF will be on the starting line of the Vendée Globe 2028-2029.
Posted on 14 Oct
2025 Aloha Classic Grand Final Preview
World titles on the line as next-gen shines A 16-year-old girl could be about to dethrone a queen. A hungry challenger could crash through a two-decade-long empire. One final event. Everything on the line.
Posted on 14 Oct