Governor’s Cup: First day produces excitement

Who will win the 49th annual Governor’s Cup?

Judging after the first day, it is anyone’s Cup.

Balboa Yacht Club, the home team skippered by Christophe Killian, went 5-0 to open the round robin action on Tuesday. However, four teams are 4-1 in the prestigious international youth match racing regatta in Corona del Mar.

Killian, along with middle Harrison Vandervort and bow Jack Martin, have yet to face two of those 4-1 teams, Royal Freshwater Bay Yacht Club (Lachy Gilmour) of Australia and Royal Southern YC (Annabel Vose) of the U.K. Gilmour, the younger brother of two-time Gov Cup champ Sam Gilmour, beat Vose in the first flight.

Jack Thompson of Newport Harbor Yacht Club came from behind to hand Gilmour his only loss of the day in his Gov Cup debut. Thompson went 3-2 on the first day.

Del Rey YC’s Chris Weis and Harry Price of Cruising Yacht Club of Australia also went 4-1.

Killian beat Weis in one of several exciting races of the day.

“We started behind and passed him at the first windward,” said Killian, a Corona del Mar High alumnus who sails for College of Charleston. “We then just barely stayed in front of him the rest of the way.”

Killian, Vandervort and Martin said they were feeling nervous before their first race, but then became calm and went about their business.

“Just like any other regatta,” Martin said.

Vose, in her first Gov Cup, said she was definitely nervous, as she lost in the first flight. However, the U.K. team rebounded to win four straight.

Vose won both the Women’s World University Match Racing Championships and British Youth National regatta over the last two years to go with a world title in the 420 class.

“Everyone is so good,” Vose said of the 12-team regatta of sailors ages 18 to 21. “There isn’t any weak team. Definitely, big nerves.”

Gilmour said he is learning as he goes in his first year of match racing. He has older brother Sam in town to coach the team that also includes the younger brother of Adam Negri, Alex. Sam and Adam were victorious in the past two Gov Cup regattas.

“I think in previous years there might have been one or two outstanding teams and the others follow,” Lachy Gilmour said. “This year it seems like everyone is really close.”

Thompson found his groove on the downwind against Lachy Gilmour to overcome the Australian’s lead.

Thompson said he felt good about the first day, going 3-2. He also felt fine with the conditions, as the breeze picked up as the day went on.

It wasn’t typical Newport Beach weather. The sailors did their best to deal with humidity.

Racing continues Wednesday and goes through Saturday. The action starts around noon just beyond the Balboa Pier.