2009 Govenors Cup practice session

8:57 AM Tue 14 Jul 2009 GMT

'Govenor's Cup 2008 Photo: Courtesy of Mary Longpre. www.LongprePhotos.Smugmug.com '

The twelve Govenors Cup teams arrived on July 14 from nearby and as far away as Australia, New Zealand and Britain. After the traveling teams settled in with Balboa Yacht Club families nearby, the racers registered, were photographed for the program, drew their spinnakers and boats for the next day.

They were then able to gather all of their gear, rig their boats and go out to practice. Some chose to race against another boat or boats while others went off on their own. They were able to take the boats out on the ocean, since the weather was mild. Coaches were able to go out on the boats with the racers. Each team has three racers, all under twenty years of age.

The Newport Harbor teams have been practicing against each other in the Gov Cup 21 boats purchased for the purpose and designed by Balboa Yacht Club Commodore and internationally known yacht designer Alan Andrews. Only the team from the Royal Yachting Association in Southampton, UK, are from a climate that makes year around sailing difficult.

Newport Harbor Yacht Club has been the Gov Cup winner for the past two years. Their new team includes Andrew Mason who raced in the 2006 Gov Cup for NHYC. Joining him are Peter Kenney and Brooks Clark. The Balboa Yacht Club team is led by Caitlyn Ybarra, the fifth woman in this year's competition, who is Helmsman. Walker Banks and Brandon Wood are also on the team, winning a six month long competition for the coveted spots on the home team.

Long Beach Yacht Club, King Harbor Yacht Club, Mission Bay Yacht Club all enjoy the wonderful Southern California conditions that make it possible for continuous sailing.

Most all of the racers that are a part of the regatta are used to sailing and racing through out the year. Many of them compete for their High School and College teams, as well as for their Yacht Clubs. The Bermuda team is able to sail anytime, except in storms. Their Island has a lot of organized racing in Optimists, which are like Sabots, for the beginning classes, but for real competition, they need to travel. Two or three times a year they go to regatta in places like Uruguay, Boston, and they plan to come to San Diego in August.

The team from New Orleans race in Lake Ponchatrain. They race Laser's 420's, J22's and J 24's as well as Lightning and Flying Scots. The San Francisco team includes a racer for Stanford University and one for Hobart in up-state New York where racing does not happen between Thanksgiving and Easter.

The Cruising Yacht Club of Australia team was selected by their coaches from a squad of thirty that train throughout their winter, while active competitors train all year. Since Auckland is in northern New Zealand, the teams from Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron are also able to sail and race all year. They had so many talented racers that they filled two of the twelve spots on the Gov Cup roster. For the first time, an all girl team will compete.

Racing can be observed from spectator boats or from the Newport Pier from about noon until about 4:30 pm, depending on the weather, from Wednesday, July 15 through Sunday, July 19. Additional information and photos are available at govcupracing.com and balboayachtclub.com.

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2009 Govenors Cup practice session

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