Local Triumphs in Governor’s Cup

Sailing for the host club, Balboa Yacht Club, 20-year-old Christophe Killian won the Governor’s Cup International Youth Match Racing Championship on July 17-22 in Newport Beach. Team Killian was the first winner from the host club since 1980.

Killian, with crew Harrison Vandervort and Jack Martin, scored a 3-0 win over Christopher Weis of Del Rey YC in the semis and a 3-1 victory over Kiwi Leonard Takahashi in the finals. It wasn’t as easy as it might sound. Although Killian won the first race against Takahashi, the 18-year-old Kiwi came back to tie the series in the second race.

Australia’s Harry Price, the sixth-ranked sailor in the World Sailing Open Match Racing rankings, was the favorite going in, but uncharacteristic mistakes led to his loss to Takahashi. Price and Weis sailed the petit final to determine third place; Weis won that match 3-1.

The Governor’s Cup dates back to 1967, when California’s governor, Ronald Reagan, donated the trophy. See www.govcupracing.com for more.