57th Governor's Cup Day 2: Callahan (USA): The comeback kid
by Susan Kenney 25 Jul 2024 05:13 BST
July 22-27, 2024
Jeffrey Petersen (USA) and Justin Callahan (USA) - 57th Governor's Cup © Tom Walker
After going 1-5 on Day 1 (Tuesday), Justin Callahan (USA) went 6-1 on Wednesday for an overall score of 7-6 moving him into semi-final contention.
One of his wins today left two-time and defending champ Jeffrey Petersen (USA) with his first loss of the Round Robin series. Petersen still leads the series with a commanding 12-1 scoreline.
"You gotta have confidence in yourself and team," Callahan said on shore after a much better Day Two. "Yesterday was the first day with a new team, and I haven't skippered a match race since last August. We've had great battles every race, win or lose. One race at a time."
Cole Tapper (AUS), last year's runner-up, is in second on 11-2, having lost to Josh Hyde (NZL) and Petersen. Hyde is in third on 9-4, having lost to the youngest competitor in GovCup history, Balboa Yacht Club's Siena Nichols (USA) — sailing in her first GovCup at age 15.
Wednesday's racing featured a beautiful 10-11 knot westerly breeze, typical for the Pacific Ocean just off Newport Beach in July — in contrast to yesterday's much lighter 5-7 knots. (Forecast for Thursday: lighter breeze).
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 & Spine Center, and the Croul Family.
Wednesday was Day Two of the first Round Robin stage. Thirteen of twenty-two for the Round Robin flights have now been completed, with Round Robin Two continuing Thursday and Friday. At the end of Round Robin Two, the top four yachts advance to a best of five semi-finals series on Friday and Saturday, with the best of five finals set later Saturday afternoon, July 27th.
At Wednesday's Pre-Race live "Morning Show" (daily at 0900 PDT / 1600 UTC), GovCup Steering Committee Chair and two-time winner Andy Rose (USA) said, "I know it sounds cliché, but with the caliber of this fleet any team can beat any other in any given race."
Indeed, in today's final flight Team Nichols was leading Team Hyde until a poor spinnaker set after the second windward mark. Hyde, hot on her heels, had a perfect set and started to roll over Nichols. She luffed aggressively, and Hyde was slow to respond, resulting in a penalty to Hyde and giving the lead back to Team Nichols which they carried into the finish.
Back at Balboa Yacht Club after the day's racing Nichols said, "It was wild but fun. You've got to give kudos to their team for their boat speed and beautiful spinnaker set. But my crew reacted well, we did a really quick luff, and that paid off. Definitely stressful but, as I said, fun."
Still in the hunt for a semi-final berth, in addition to Petersen, Tapper and Hyde, are Morgan Pinckney (USA) on 8-5, Marcello Torre (AUS) on 8-5, and Callahan on 7-6.
Results are updated live each day during racing on MatchRacingResults.com.
The live "Pre-RaceMorning Shows" produced by GovCup TV air each day through Saturday at 0900 PDT / 1600 UTC. Watch the Morning Shows live on the Balboa Yacht Club YouTube channel and the GovCup Facebook page, or a replay on demand afterwards. Live coverage of the racing airs on Friday and Saturday at 1130 PDT / 1830 UTC. Friday's press conference with the four semi-finals will also be covered live at 1900 PDT / 0200+1 UTC. Saturday's final press conference and awards ceremony will also air live beginning at 1700 PDT / 0000+1 UTC.