Final four move on wet

NEWPORT BEACH — Many champions are greeted with flowers and fanfare, but in the 43rd annual Governor’s Cup International Junior Match Racing Championship, the final four teams are welcomed with water balloons.

However, the water balloons were as innocent as the children and teenagers throwing them and epitomized the fun nature of the Gov Cup in and out of the competition.

“The Gov Cup’s probably the funnest event I’ve ever been to,” Cruising Yacht Club of Australia bowman Keiran Searle said. “It’s been an amazing experience. The locals, and all the Americans as well, are some of the nicest people I’ve ever met, the [Balboa Yacht Club] and everyone involved — we couldn’t ask for anything else.”

CYCA, led by Jay Griffin as the skipper, Will Parker at the middle and Searle on the bow, was undefeated in the second round robin and finished Saturday’s races in second place with 17 points.

“We adjusted to the boats,” Searle said of the reason for round two’s success. “Our speed and handling of these boats improved through round two — I guess you can say a lot quicker than everyone else’s — so we’re quite happy where we are going into the semifinals and finals.”

The Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron of William Tiller, Harry Thurston and Shaun Mason remains in first place with 21 points and its lone loss came from CYCA.

The Gov Cup rules state the first-place team after two round robins, the Royal New Zealand in this case, can choose a team in the top four to race against today in the semifinals.

The remaining two teams will race against each other in a first to two points competition to move onto the finals.

The semifinals start today at noon and can be viewed from the Newport Beach Pier.

“Just take it one race at a time,” Griffin said about today’s races. “We’re just happy to be here.”

The two-time defending Gov Cup champions Newport Harbor Yacht Club also moved onto today’s final four with 15 points.

“We didn’t do that great today,” NHYC skipper Andrew Mason said. “But we only needed to win three today to make it mathematically impossible for anyone else to take our spot.”

King Harbor Yacht Club, who had the third highest point total (eight) in the second round robin, rounds out the final four with 13 points.

NHYC and King Harbor are also invited to New Zealand for the International Youth Match Racing Series in February at Royal New Zealand’s home base.

The Royal Yachting Assn. and Mission Bay Yacht Club narrowly missed the final four with 12 points and the host BYC finished in 10th place with seven points.

Even though only one day remains in the Gov Cup, it has left a memorable impression on all the competitors from start to finish.

“On the first night, [BYC member] Andy Rose was the host — a great emcee — and introduced all the teams,” Griffin said. “We got to know them and it’s been getting better ever since.”

Final results and additional information about the Gov Cup are available at www.balboayachtclub.com.