Australian Tapper Wins 58th Governor’s Cup, NHYC’s Pinckney Places Third
The 58th edition of the annual Governor’s Cup, Balboa Yacht Club’s annual International Youth Match Racing Championship, took place in Newport Beach, CA, this past weekend. The storied event saw Australian skipper Cole Tapper (Cruising Yacht Club of Australia) claim his second consecutive GovCup title. Tapper shares the distinction of being a multiple-time winner of the event with 14 other skippers in the regatta’s 58-year history, per the regatta’s official press release, written by Ken Sherb.
Tapper defeated American skipper and reigning ICSA College Sailor of the Year Justin Callahan (Biscayne Bay Yacht Club) 3-1 in the best-of-five finals. Callahan is a rising senior on the Harvard Sailing Team. California’s own Morgan Pinckney (Newport Harbor Yacht Club) finished third in the event (his third third-place finish in the GovCup), beating Josh Hyde of New Zealand 2-0 in the Petit Finals. Pinckney is an up-and-coming junior on the Yale Sailing Team.
The 2025 GovCup field featured 12 teams from six different countries. Five American teams sailed, skippered by Callahan (Biscayne Bay Yacht Club), Pinckney (Newport Harbor Yacht Club), Siena Nichols (Balboa Yacht Club), Dylan Sih (Newport Harbor Yacht Club), and Michael Kirkman (Bayview Yacht Club).
Two Kiwi teams competed, led by Hyde and Ethan Fong, both of the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron. Tapper was joined by Daniel Kemp (Royal Prince Albert Yacht Club) in representing Australia. Theo Westerlind (Royal Gothenburg Yacht Club) sailed for Sweden; Adam Leddy (Greystones Sailing Club) for Ireland, and Victor Melchior (Royal Danish Yacht Club) of Denmark, rounded out the field of competitors.
Though Tapper won the event, it was not smooth sailing all the way through. He finished third in the round-robin phase of the event, with a record of 16-6. This placed him behind both Callahan (20-2) and Hyde (18-4). Pinckney finished the round-robin with a record of 15-7 to claim the final spot in the semifinals, just ahead of Westerlind (14-8).
The first semifinal was an all-American affair between Callahan and Pinckney, which saw Callahan victorious after four races, with Pinckney claiming the first race. The other semifinal pitted Tapper against Hyde in an Aussie-Kiwi battle. Though Hyde won the first race of the semifinal, Tapper won the next three to set up a showdown with Callahan.
Sherb’s press release describes the conditions for the final as “like the rest of the week in the Pacific Ocean off Newport Beach … winds averaging 5 to 6 knots.” Tapper won race one of the final. After Callahan took the second race, the Australian took the next two to clinch his second consecutive GovCup win. Sherb describes Tapper’s performance, stating that he “found another, higher gear … with superb match race tactics against Callahan and at least equal speed.”
Tapper, Callahan, Pinckney, Hyde, and the rest of the participants will be names to watch over the years to come. The Governor’s Cup has been a checklist item for many legendary sailors from around the world, including John Kostecki, Jimmy Spithill, and Paul Cayard, among many others.
You can see the full results of the 58th edition of the Governor’s Cup here.
Good Jibes #203: Michael and Michelle Polkabla on Winning the 2025 Singlehanded Transpacific Yacht Race
Welcome to this week’s episode of Good Jibes! Tune in to Hanalei Bay on the island of Kauai, Hawaii, as host Christine Weaver chats with Michael and Michelle Polkabla right after Michael won the 2025 Singlehanded Transpacific Yacht Race. Michael finished first overall on his Monterey-based 1963 Cal 40 Solstice.
Hear why Michael hand-steered the last 20 hours of the race, about the difficult wind and wave conditions as the race progressed, what was going through Michelle’s mind waiting for her husband’s arrival, crazy stories of hallucinations and sleep deprivation, and about the most dangerous breakfast burrito of all time.
Here’s a sample of what you’ll hear in this episode:
- Michael’s sail configuration at the finish
- Why the last day of the race was the hardest
- What was going on in Michelle’s head during the race?
- Michael’s favorite part of the race
- Why you’re never 100% ready
Learn more about Michael and Michelle at SFBaySSS.org and on Instagram @MPSinglehandedTranspac.
Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and your other favorite podcast spots — follow and leave a 5-star review if you’re feeling the Good Jibes!
Pumpout on the Go with the Pumpout Nav App
Boat sewage spreads disease, harms aquatic life & ruins water. Let’s put waste in its place. Get On Board with the Pumpout Nav app to find the nearest sewage pumpout, dump station, or floating restroom. Download it today at www.boatcalifornia.com/pumpout
A Couple of Things SoCal — a Ship’s Tour, and a Catalina Art Show
Over the past couple of months we’ve made a lot of mention of the USCGC Eagle visiting San Francisco. Right now this magnificent ship is on her way to San Diego, where she will be docking this coming weekend. This will be the ship’s first visit to San Diego since 2008. It is also her 11th port of call in her 14-week tour of the West Coast.
The Eagle is due to reach San Diego on August 8, at 1 p.m., tying up at B Street Pier, 1140 North Harbor Dr., where she will receive visitors from Friday afternoon through Sunday evening. Her schedule is as follows.
- Friday, Aug. 8 (1 to 4 p.m.)
- Saturday, Aug. 9 (10 a.m. to 7 p.m.)
- Sunday, Aug. 10 (10 a.m. to 7 p.m.)
No tickets are required, and tours are free of charge.
The 295-ft-long Eagle is the largest tall ship flying the Stars and Stripes, and the only active square-rigger in United States government service. Constructed in 1936 by the Blohm+Voss Shipyard in Hamburg, Germany, and originally commissioned as the Horst Wessel by the German navy, Eagle was a war reparation for the United States following World War II. She is a three-masted barque with more than 22,300 square feet of sail and six miles of rigging. Eagle has served as a classroom at sea and a leadership laboratory for future Coast Guard officers since 1946, offering an at-sea leadership and professional development experience as part of the Coast Guard Academy’s curriculum.
Include a visit to the Eagle in your weekend plans. You won’t regret it.
On Sunday, October 26, the Newport Harbor Yacht Club, Newport Beach, is hosting the Catalina Island Conservancy’s 15th Annual Catalina: The Wild Side Art Show and Sale.
This special event brings together artists and supporters to promote the protection of Catalina Island’s wildlands. This year’s featured artists include Brienne Brown, Don Demers, Mike Hernandez, Kathleen Hudson, Paul Kratter, Kim Lordier, Dan Marshall, Lori Putnam, Jason Situ and Michelle Usibelli. Through plein air painting, the show captures the island’s rare species and rugged landscape to inspire restoration and long-term conservation. Participation in the show helps sustain science-based conservation that helps protect the island.
Attendees will have the opportunity to view and purchase nearly 100 original works of art depicting Catalina’s wild side. Mingle with featured artists and like-minded supporters while helping to protect one of California’s unique natural treasures.
Registered guests will receive early access to a digital catalog one week before the show. Sponsorship and priority ticket options are available and offer early purchase access. Our new exclusive Curator Sponsor level includes a private dinner with artists the night before the show and the rare opportunity to pre-select one painting before the sale.
General admission is free. Proceeds benefit the Catalina Island Conservancy’s mission to restore habitats, protect rare species, and expand access to nature for future generations.
Get Ready to Connect at Latitude 38’s Fall Baja Ha-Ha Mexico Crew List Party
The Latitude 38 Fall Baja Ha-Ha Mexico Crew List Party (Fall BHHMCL Party) is just around the corner — September 4, to be exact. Now, we know the name we gave you above is very long, exceedingly long in fact. But we have so many missions for this party, we didn’t want to miss anything, or anyone. Perhaps if we break it down it will all make more sense.
Latitude 38 (that’s us) hosts a Crew List Party twice each year (not counting the parties missed during the COVID years). The spring party, usually held in March or thereabouts, is to connect sailors for local racing, cruising, daysailing, etc., across the summer. The Fall BHHMCL Party is geared more toward the fall and winter seasons, which for many sailors means cruising south. This party also includes an informative seminar for southbound sailors, with additional information specific to those who have signed up for the Baja Ha-Ha, or who intend to. That said, the party is an excellent opportunity to meet sailors of every ilk; consider it your one-stop shop for connecting with sailors regardless of where, when or how you sail.
We know for a fact that these parties are a doorway to adventure. We’ve heard from and met many sailors who have found a boat or crew through the Latitude 38 Crew List Parties. Take Tony Gilbert, for example. Tony says, “I found more than a few good opportunities to sail on other people’s boats at the Latitude 38 crew parties in San Francisco and Sausalito. I met a variety of skippers looking for crew for daysailing, cruising, racing, and even exotic deliveries (“I’m going to Hawaii next week and need an extra hand.”). Or Richmond Yacht Club sailor Nancy Ibison, who scored a ride in the 2023 Baja Ha-Ha at the Latitude 38 Fall BHHMCL Party. Nancy sailed to Mexico with Eve and Steve aboard their 43-ft Fountaine Pajot catamaran Chat de Mer.
Another great way to make the most of the crew parties is to sign up on the Latitude 38 Crew List pages. You can then meet your prospective crew mates in the safe and fun environment of the sailing community, before leaving the dock! Jimmy Peters found his ride through the the Crew List pages, and recommends meeting in person ahead of a long passage. “I think it’s common sense and should be a priority to take the time to meet the boat crew and seek sailing references before committing to a long passage,” Jimmy says.
Perhaps you’re one of the sailors who met your crew or skipper at a Latitude 38 Fall BHHMCL Party. If so, we’d love to hear your story. Whom did you meet, and where have you sailed because of that meeting? Let us know in the comments below or email us at [email protected].
Remember to circle the date on your calendar, set an alarm on your computer or phone, or both.
Date and Time: Thursday, September 4
The Mexico Seminar: 4–5:30 p.m.
This year’s Baja Ha-Ha cruising seminar features longtime Baja Ha-Ha vet Patsy Verhoeven (“Assistant Poobah”) of SV Talion. Hear stories, get tips, and bring your questions. Doors open at 3:45 p.m.
The Party: 6–9 p.m.
Hang out with skippers, sailors, and sponsors in the Spaulding Marine Center boatyard.
Location: Spaulding Marine Center, 600 Gate 5 Rd., Sausalito.
More details:
Vendor tables and local sailing resources; Casablanca Mediterranean food truck on-site; no-host bar run by Spaulding (supports educational programs); raffles, resources, and Bay Area sailing energy.
This is a mostly outdoor event — please dress in layers.
Admission
Seminar Only: $10
Party Only: $10
Both: $20
Free admission for 2025 Baja Ha-Ha skippers and first mates
Bonus
Admission includes a free First Timer’s Guide to Mexico ($15 value), door prize entry, and access to the most vibrant sailing network in Northern California.
See you there!
Westwind Yacht Management — Washing, Waxing and Varnishing
Westwind Yacht Management: Premiere Yacht & Fleet services for the San Francisco Bay Area.