Governor’s Cup 2024 Recap!

This year’s Governor’s Cup finished up in spectacular fashion on Saturday the 27th. Gov Cup is the oldest youth match race regatta in the world and started in 1967 at Balboa Yacht Club. Now, it hosts teams from all over the world who go head to head every year in Newport Beach, CA and compete for the prestigious first place. I witnessed the 2022 Gov Cup the caliber of youth racers that showed up amazed me. There are always many American entrants but it is also a must-visit on the youth match racing circuit. Comptetitors will travel all the way from Australia and New Zealand. The quality of racing is pushed a bit further each year and surpasses expectations time and time again. 

This regatta begins with two round robins, giving the 12 teams multiple chances to race each other and jostle for top positions. After the first round robin Jeffrey Petersen of USA boasted a win percentage of 100%. He won 82% of his races in round two and averaged an overall position of 91%. In a similar manner, Cole Tapper of Australia averaged 91% after the first two rounds with 82% in the first round and 100% in the second. The top four skippers– Petersen, Tapper, Hyde, and Callahan– then entered the semifinals and the top two moved onto finals. These are the best 3 of 5 races.

Throughout the regatta, the competition was always stiff between Jeffrey Petersen and Cole Tapper. It came down to the fifth race in the finals as a decider. In the end Tapper emerged victorious after a long battle. Petersen has been sailing Gov Cup for the past six years with two wins under his belt from 2021 and 2023. This regatta was the last one he is eligible for and though he did not win, he reflects fondly on his time. “Racing my last Gov Cup was a bittersweet experience. While I am sad that my run has come to an end and that my team and I were not able to break the record, when I look back at the last six years all I feel is gratitude.”

Although a few 2024 skippers are aging out, the future is bright with new young talent always emerging. “Gov Cup has been the best sailing experience of my life. I can’t wait to give back to the event as a volunteer,” Petersen continued. “I hope that others can share in what I believe is the best youth regatta in the world!” 

For more information on the Governor’s Cup, click here for the website and here for results. All photography is credited to Bronny Daniels.