Governor's Cup 2025

The big day - sailing my 5th Governor's Cup, and third on Dangerous. We finally got what we've been wishing for years, a heavy air downwind race. After jockeying at the start, we began under spinnaker with breeze in the high teens, sailing just under Diablo. They kept us in their bad air for a while, before we finally swung above them to clear air. We pressed south at incredible speed, though we weren't quite able to hold a rhumb line angle. About at the nuclear plant we doused the spinnaker and climbed back up under the #3 to make a second spin run. Once we reached the Eastern Shore we popped a kite for a second time and rocketed down the Bay, frequently surfing well into the double digits and making it all the way to the target before dark. The wind steadily increased as we made our way south, and at 25kts and increasing waves and challenging conditions, we finally doused the spinnaker and continued with a jib and a reefed main. I took my second turn on the helm around this time, and drove the boat through increasing waves, peaking at some gnarly 10 footers near Point Lookout. I had the helm for a new speed record of 15.8kts surfing down a particularly violent wave, besting my all-time boat speed record and setting a new one for team Dangerous. Things calmed as we headed into the Potomac, and I returned the helm to our owner as we got ready to round into the St. Mary's. We finished the race in comparatively light conditions, changing down to the #1 and only putting in one pair of tacks to make the finish. We crossed the line at 12:43am, for a second in PHRF B/C.

This race was some of the finest, hardest sailing I've ever participated in, and I applaud every single member of our crew for working hard the whole race. No breaks, no complaining, just 9 hours of fantastic, intense sailing. I suspect it'll be a while before I see another Gov Cup like that one!

Thanks SpinSheet photographers for the great photo by Thomas Point!