Here’s the cup, mate

Coral Wilson

Competitors in the 37th annual Governor’s Cup Junior Match Racing

Championship exchanged sinister grins and knowing glances as they

awaited the winning sailboat’s grand arrival.

The team from the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia was greeted

with sirens, horns and loud cheers. And just after setting foot on

the docks of the Balboa Yacht Club, they received their final welcome

by their fellow sailors -- a congratulatory dunk in the harbor.

Seve Jarvin and Robert Bell were tackled and thrown in the water

first. Just behind them, Sam Newton initially escaped to the edge of

the boat but gave up with a backward dive. Retaliation sent other

crew members and even coach David Adams into the water. But all

quickly bobbed back to the surface with big smiles on their faces.

It was the end of a four-day sailing adventure.

“I was so proud of you guys,” said Elizabeth Barnes, race

committee member. “That last race was just fantastic.”

Barnes had hosted the three 17-year-old boys from Sydney,

Australia, in her home during their eight-day stay. She even gave

them a lucky plastic lobster which the boys kissed before the big

races and later attributed to their success.

“They played it cool, they played by the rules, and they pushed it

to the next level,” Barnes said.

Unafraid of wet, slippery hugs, Barnes warmly greeted each winner.

All 11 teams were wonderful, but she said her boys were by far her

favorites.

“Awesome, stoked” Newton said, describing his feeling with a wide

grin. “Just the atmosphere of everything at the moment, the people --

winning.”

The new boats and calming advice from their coaches had made all

the difference, Jarvin said.

The race marked the initiation of a fleet of new 21-foot

sailboats, the Governor’s Cup 21s, which had been designed

specifically for the Governor’s Cup by Alan Andrews, a Balboa Yacht

Club member.

The boats were completed just one week before the start of the

race and are valued at about $24,000 to $27,000, said Larry Law,

president of the Newport Balboa Sailing and Seamanship Assn.

“The boats are geared for the lighter wind conditions of Southern

California,” he said. “The new fleet is very competitive, very

equal.”

The boats are the result of efforts by Andy Rose and other Balboa

Yacht Club members who believed in raising the level of the

competition, Law said.

“It was a very close race,” said Wayne Rodgers, publicity

director. “I think we’ve started a new era for the Governor’s Cup.”

The invitational race has become an international event, regularly

attracting teams from Australia, New Zealand and Great Britain and

from across the United States, he said.

Crew members from Australia said they enjoyed the sun, a nice

change from their winters. But Dan Brandt, coach for the San

Francisco Yacht Club, said he is used to sailing in winds off the

coast of Northern California which average 20 knots.

“The light air, I’m pretty biased on that end,” he said. “It’s

boring as hell.”

While sailors from out of town repeatedly complained about the

light wind off the coast of Newport Beach, Newport Harbor Yacht Club

sailors said they used the inexperience of others to their advantage.

“We like light air. We are used to it,” Phil Stemler, 18, said.

Stemler offered some advice for sailing in light-wind conditions

-- keep momentum, steer as little as possible and find the breeze.

Those who came in behind the winning team still raved about the

new boats and the experiences they had gained. Sailors representing

the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy said they were very satisfied with

second place.

“I’m stoked,” Todd Kutkiewicz, 18, said. “We couldn’t have asked

for a better regatta -- the weather was perfect, the level of

competition was incredible and we made a lot of good friends here.”

What kept the team from winning first place?

“All the hot girls on the motor boats out there,” Peet Must, 19,

said. “Nah, just kidding.”

* CORAL WILSON is the news assistant and may be reached at (949)

574-4298 or by e-mail at [email protected].