Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club (RPAYC) proudly announces that club member Daniel Kemp has been selected to compete in the 58th Governor’s Cup International Youth Match Racing Championship, to be held July 29–August 3, 2025, in Newport Beach, California.
This achievement marks the second time within a year that Kemp has earned a coveted invitation to the prestigious Governor’s Cup, showcasing his consistent excellence at the pinnacle of youth match racing. The “Gov Cup” is widely regarded as one of the world’s most renowned youth match racing events, run annually by Balboa Yacht Club in California. Securing back-to-back selections to this championship is a rare honour, and RPAYC is delighted to see Kemp once again representing the club on the world stage.
Kemp’s selection for the 2025 Governor’s Cup comes on the heels of an outstanding year of performances on the youth sailing circuit. He is currently ranked as the world’s No. 3 youth match racing skipper , a testament to his skill, consistency, and success against top international competition. In late 2024, Kemp led his RPAYC youth team to victory at the 30th HARKEN International Youth Match Racing Championship on home waters, clinching the historic Rockin’ Robin Trophy as champions of the event .
Earlier in the 2023–24 season, he secured a podium finish with third place at the Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron’s Hardy Cup, and went on to claim the runner-up position at the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron’s Youth International Match Racing Cup in Auckland . These achievements – a string of podium finishes capped by a major championship win – have firmly cemented Kemp’s reputation as one of the top youth match racers in the world. His consistent excellence on the water not only earned him an elite world ranking but also prepared him for the high-level competition he will face at the Governor’s Cup this year.
The Governor’s Cup, now in its 58th year, is the oldest international youth match racing championship in the world and is globally recognized for its high level of competition . Each summer it attracts the best under-23 match racing teams from around the globe, and 2025 will be no exception. As a 2024 Governor’s Cup competitor, Daniel Kemp knows first-hand the intensity and calibre of this event. Earning an invitation for a second consecutive year is a remarkable feat – especially given the record number of international teams vying for entry this year – and underscores how highly the selection committee regards his talent .
RPAYC has a proud history at the Governor’s Cup, having lifted the trophy three times in past decades – first by Anthony Merrington in 1992, followed by back-to-back victories with Murray Gordon at the helm in 2004 and 2005 . In more recent years, the club’s youth sailors such as Clare Costanzo and Will Dargaville have also represented RPAYC at this prestigious international event . Kemp’s successive selection continues this legacy of RPAYC excellence. His participation for the second year running not only celebrates the club’s return to the Governor’s Cup arena, but also heralds a bright new chapter for RPAYC’s Youth Development program on the world stage.
Notably, the Governor’s Cup has served as a launching pad for many of the sport’s elite sailors. Among its distinguished alumni is James Spithill, a two-time America’s Cup-winning skipper, who began his ascent in competitive sailing through this very event. Spithill’s journey from the Governor’s Cup to the pinnacle of yacht racing exemplifies the event’s role in shaping future champions.
Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club extends its heartfelt congratulations to Daniel Kemp on this significant accomplishment. The club’s members and leadership are immensely proud of his dedication, skill and sportsmanship. As Daniel prepares to once again fly the RPAYC burgee against the world’s best in California, the entire Alfred’s community will be cheering him on. We wish Daniel and his team fair winds and the best of luck at the 58th Governor’s Cup International Youth Match Racing Championship.
Good luck, Daniel – your RPAYC family will be cheering you on!
Commodore, Robert McClelland, RPAYC