Tapper up 2-0 in his the best-of-five semi-final over Callahan; Petersen leads Hyde 2-0
NEWPORT BEACH, CA (July 26, 2024) — When the round-robins stage of the 57th Governors Cup ended today, 2023 GovCup runner-up Cole Tapper (AUS) with this team of Jack Frewin and Hamish Vass of the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia were tied with 2021 and 2023 winner, Jeffrey Petersen (USA) of Balboa Yacht Club with 17 wins and 2 losses. The tie-break went in favor of Tapper, who beat Team Petersen in the close final match of the round-robins.
As is the custom in match racing, the round-robin winner gets to choose their Semi-final opponent from the other three semi-finalists. Tapper chose, as is often but not always the case, the fourth-place finisher — Justin Callahan (USA) and his team of Trevor Davis, Michaela O’Brien and Spencer Kreigstein.
That left Petersen and his team of Daniel Pegg and Enzo Menditto to race their semi against the third-place finisher — Josh Hyde (NZL) with his crew Tom Pilkington, Zach Fong, and Cody Coughlan.
The Semis got underway Friday afternoon in a light 5-7 knots. Petersen and Tapper easily prevailed in their respective matches, and both lead 2-0. This came as little surprise to most veteran observers, given the superlative speed and tactics shown this week by Teams Petersen and Tapper.
Going into today’s remaining three rounds robin flights, there were three teams in contention for the other two semi-final spots — Hyde, Callahan and Morgan Pinckney (USA) with crew Nick Drummond, Mark Murray and Colleen O’Brien representing Newport Harbor Yacht Club. However, and perhaps showing the overall strength of the field, those three teams suffered multiple losses today at this crucial stage of the regatta. Hyde ended up going through to the semis easily, while Callahan edged Pinckney by one point.
The “GovCup” is the oldest and most prestigious youth match racing championship in the world and is sponsored again this year by Terry Causey / Call of The Sea, Dr. Rob Bray / DISC Sports and Spine Center, and the Croul Family.
Results are updated live during racing on MatchRacingResults.com.
Back on shore tonight (Friday) GovCup Steering Committee chair Andy Rose will host a press conference, covered live by GovCupTV, featuring the four semi-finalist skippers at 1900 PDT / 0200+1 UTC.
GovCupTV streams to the Balboa Yacht Club YouTube Channel, and the BYCGovCup Facebook page.
Tomorrow (Saturday) is the final live “Pre-Race Morning Show” at 0900 PDT / 1600 UTC. Live coverage of the racing continues at 1130 PDT / 1830 UTC, with the final press conference and awards ceremony also covered live back at Balboa YC at 1700 PDT / 0000+1 UTC (or watch a replay on demand afterwards).
