58th Governor's Cup International Youth Match Racing Championship Overall
by Susan Kenney 3 Aug 23:41 PDT
29 July - 3 August 2025
When asked how the Round-Robin phase of the 58th Governor's Cup had gone for them, in which they lost six matches, Cole Tapper's veteran crew, Hamish Vass (AUS) and Jack Frewin (NZL), said, "a bit ropey." Australian for "poor quality or unsatisfactory." They still made it to the Semi-finals where they were anything but ropey, dispensing with cross-Tasman Sea rival Josh Hyde's team (NZL) 3-1.
Tapper advanced to the Finals against Justin Callahan (USA), a GovCup veteran who finished at the top of this year's Round-Robin phase. In the Final, Tapper's team made short work of it, winning 3-1.
Thus, Tapper's team was able to achieve the same result as their win in 2024, becoming the 14th skipper in the Gov Cup's 58th year to win two titles.
The Petit-final for 3rd place was won by local Newport Harbor Yacht Club star Morgan Pinckney (USA), achieving that place for the third time in his five years racing for the Governor's Cup. Pinckney also made short work of his opponent, Kiwi Josh Hyde (NZL) 2-0. No easy feat, considering Hyde had finished 2nd in the Round-Robin phase, losing only four matches in the 22-race double Round-Robin.
Today's conditions were like the rest of the week in the Pacific Ocean off Newport Beach. With winds averaging 5 to 6 knots, Tapper (AUS) found another, higher gear — rising brilliantly to occasion when it mattered most — with superb match race tactics against Callahan, at least equal boat speed.
Balboa Yacht Club's team, Siena Nichols (USA) and her crew Maddie Nichols, Eddie Kliem and Kai Brennan placed 7th.
The Governor's Cup, first raced in 1967, is the oldest and most prestigious youth match racing championship in the world. The 2025 edition is presented by Terry Causey and his foundation "Call of the Sea", with co-presenting sponsorship from the Croul Family.
Find out more at www.govcupracing.com.