Governor's Cup - Australia vs Finland in Final

by Nancy Mellon + Richard Gladwell on 23 Jul 2005 The semi-finals have concluded in the 39th Governor’s Cup sailed at Balboa Yacht Club. Three days racing have been completed.

The team going through to the semi-finals were: Nylandska Jaktklubben (FIN), Southern Yacht Club (USA) and two Australian teams, South of Perth Yacht Club and Royal Prince Alfred YC.

Royal Prince Alfred picked up the last semi-final slot by virtue of application of tie-breaker rules over the host club crew from Balboa. RPAYC had tied with Balboa Yacht Club for fourth, but as RPAYC had beaten BYC in their Round Robin match, RPAYC went through to the final four.

In the first semi-final RPAYC beat Southern Yacht Club, while the Finnish team beat South of Perth. In the finals, on Saturday, RPAYC will have to sail against the Finnish team, which has won all but one race in the series. South of Perth YC will be racing Southern Yacht Club for third, in the last races of the day.

Silja Lehtinen, the helmsman of the Finnish team, commented that she didn’t expect their team to do so well. She really likes the boats, built for this event, since they are great for these conditions. She had not sailed in Gov Cup 21’s before, but she certainly learned how to sail them very quickly and well.

On Saturday, the final day of racing, the fifth placed team will race the sixth, pitting local rivals, NHYC against the host team, BYC. All of the teams will be racing during the day, providing a challenge for each.

The winning team will be escorted back to the dock for a celebration. Awards will be presented Saturday evening.

The highest placing two US teams are invited to the International Youth Match Race Series that takes place in February at the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron in Auckland. The top US team also qualifies for the Cowes Youth Week Match Race regatta held in Cowes, Isle of Wight, England the following year.

The 2005 Governor’s Cup is presented by Boatswain’s Locker, and co-sponsored by Quiksilver, Daily Pilot, Island Marine Fuel, Barnacle Bill’s, Inc. Underwater Yacht Maintenance, West Marine and Gerard Signs and Graphics.

Round Robin Results:

10 wins and one loss Nylandska Jaktklubben, Helsinki, Finland

8 wins, 3 losses Southern Yacht Club, New Orleans, LA

South of Perth Yacht Club, Applecross, Australia

6 wins, 5 losses Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club, NSW, Australia

Balboa Yacht Club, Corona del Mar, CA

5 wins, 6 losses Newport Harbor Yacht Club, Balboa, CA

Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron, Auckland, New Zealand

Cruising Yacht Club of Australia, NSW, Australia

Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron, Sydney, Australia

King Harbor Yacht Club, Redondo Beach, CA

2 wins, 9 losses Seattle Yacht Club, Seattle, WA

1 wins, 10 losses San Francisco Yacht Club, Belvedere, CA