GOVERNOR’S CUP:KHYC’s hunger nearly fulfilled

For results and more information on the Governor’s Cup, go to www.balboayachtclub.com

NEWPORT BEACH — After being dethroned in the 41st annual Governor’s Cup, the King Harbor Yacht Club crew appeared to be in a hurry for some food.

“We’re happy that we’re here, but I have to go to dinner,� King Harbor bowman Blake Smisko said Saturday at the Balboa Yacht Club.

Smisko and King Harbor didn’t seem to be in a mood for conversation after Michael Menninger, Cole Hatton and Chris Segerblom of Newport Harbor Yacht Club sailed away with their Cup.

The defending champions won 17 out of 22 races to advance to the semifinals as the No. 3 seed. KHYC then vaulted past Cruising Yacht Club of Australia into the best-of-three championship series.

Smisko, Steven Natvig and Wes Bryne of KHYC lost in a tight final to Newport Harbor, which took the first race.

King Harbor, of Redondo Beach, battled back to take the second race and led in the final race as well. But, it squandered the lead and Newport Harbor seized the finale and King Harbor’s championship.

The King Harbor trio was trying to become the first yacht club to repeat since the Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club of Australia did it in 2004 and ’05. King Harbor won two Governor’s Cup titles in a row in 1999-2000.

Another repeat was within reach.

“It was good breeze to begin with, but it just got really shifty at the end, so it was anybody’s race,� Smisko, 17, said. “I mean, the lead changed like five times in the last race, so it was close.�

Natvig, the 19-year-old who became the first U.S. skipper to win the Cup since fellow KHYC member Colin Campbell in 2000, took over skipping duties for the final time this year.

In his fifth and final regatta, Natvig didn’t display too bothered following the race.

“[I’m] a little disappointed that it was mostly American teams this year, but next year there should be more,� Natvig said. “My crew did great, they had a good regatta.�

Natvig and Smisko sailed together last year. They were joined by newcomer Byrne this time around.

Byrne signifies the future for King Harbor as Smisko and Natvig will no longer be competing in the Governor’s Cup.

Natvig has confidence in Byrne.

“Our middleman Wes should be here next year taking over for us,� Natvig said. “I think he should be all right, he has us to practice against so he should be pretty good next year.�

Byrne isn’t too worried about the future.

“I haven’t been in too many races yet, but I’ve been crewing a lot so I think I’ll be ok,� said Byrne, who concurred with Natvig. “Hopefully there are more [international teams] next year to mix it up a little.�

Smisko said King Harbor has sailed against international teams before, so seeing the likes of the Australians wasn’t uncommon. Although there won’t be any more Governor’s Cup competitions, Smisko has more races to look forward to.

“We’re going on to bigger and better things,� Smisko said. “You know, we are moving up … bigger races.�

For Smisko and King Harbor, the next big thing they’ll hope for is a trophy dinner.

JASON KORNFELD may be reached at (714) 966-4616 or at [email protected].