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2026 Governor’s Cup: No Clear Favorites for First Time in Five Years

  • Writer: Ken Sherb .
    Ken Sherb .
  • 5 days ago
  • 3 min read

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Monday, January 26, 2026


59th Governor’s Cup will be July 27-August 1; Interested Skippers under age 23 invited to file a Request for Invitation at www.govcupracing.com

 

NEWPORT BEACH, CA — Balboa Yacht Club has posted the Notice of Race as well as all the information necessary for requesting an invitation (“RFI”) for the 59th Governor’s Cup International Youth Match Racing Championship, July 27-August 1, 2026. It Is available on the event website www.govcupracing.com under “Race Documents.”


The deadline for submitting RFIs is April 10, 2026, but the Selection Committee may at any time invite skippers who are particularly qualified. Accordingly, interested skippers are encouraged to file an RFI soon. The event is age-restricted to skippers and crews that have not reached their 23rd birthday by August 1, 2026 (the last day of the regatta).


“We have an unusual situation this year. There are no clear favorites returning, given that the last five winners and runners-up have all “aged out,” noted Christine Gribben, BYC Rear Commodore and Event Chair. “After a five-year period dominated by Jeffrey Petersen (USA) and Cole Tapper (AUS), who had two wins each, and Jordan Stevenson (NZL) with one win, we look forward to new youth match racing stars emerging this year.”


BYC’s Governor’s Cup is the oldest youth match racing championship in the world. Included among its “alumni” are many of the finest sailors in the world including two-time America’s Cup winner James Spithill (AUS), multiple Congressional Cup winners, as well as former World Match Racing Tour champs Spithill (AUS), Taylor Canfield (USA), Phil Robertson (NZL) and Nick Egnot-Johnson (NZL). GovCup sailors have also dominated other youth match racing events worldwide, with six GovCup veterans also winning the Youth Match Racing World Championship.


Two-time GovCup winner and Steering Committee Chair Andy Rose said, “Clearly there is no early favorite in 2026. However, assuming they choose to file an RFI, it is likely that Morgan Pinckney (USA) (who was 3rd in 2025), Josh Hyde (NZL) (4th), Theo Westerlind (SWE) (5th,) , and BYC’s own Siena Nichols (7th) would be among the top competitors. Regardless, in the nearly 60-year history of the GovCup some sailors have achieved success in their first regatta, and if there was ever a year when such success would be possible, 2026 is the year.”


GovCup is sailed in identical Governor’s Cup 22 sloops provided to the competitors by the Newport Balboa Sailing & Seamanship Association. They were designed by famed yacht designer and BYC Staff Commodore Alan Andrews feature fractional rigs, flat top mains and masthead spinnakers. They have proven perfectly suited to racing in wind speeds of as little as 4-5 knots, but also perform well and are exciting to sail in the 18-20 knot conditions seen in some recent regattas. Since the GovCup 22s were first raced in 2016, most skippers and crews have agreed they are among the best boats used in youth match racing.

(End)

MORE INFORMATION

Emily O’Connell

+1 949 673-3515 x158

Pictures on next page


 

PHOTOS

 

The “Changing of the Guard”, Cole Tapper (AUS) left, and runner-up Jeffrey Petersen (USA), right, at a Governor’s Cup press conference. Both have “aged out” of the under-23 event after collectively winning four of five GovCups in the last five years. Credit: Tom Walker

 

 

Close racing between 2025 winner Cole Tapper (AUS) and runner-up Justin Callahan (USA). Tapper has gone on to further success on the match racing world stage and Callahan was just named US Intercollegiate Sailor of the Year and is one of three finalists for the U.S. Rolex Yachtsman of the Year award. Credit: Mary Longpre

 
 
 

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