Familiar faces surge to the fore on Day 1 of NYYC Invitational Cup

Newport, R.I. — The first day of the ninth edition of the Rolex New York Yacht Club Invitational Cup saw 20 all-amateur crews face challenging conditions with a 15-knot easterly wind and six-foot seas. As the day unfolded, familiar names emerged at the top of the leaderboard, setting the stage for an exciting regatta with four more days and up to nine races remaining.

The defending champion, San Diego Yacht Club, overcame an early start disqualification in the first race with a strong recovery, finishing the day with a score of 7-1-1, leading by two points over the Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club, which maintained a consistent performance with scores of 3-4-4. Trailing in third was the Royal Canadian Yacht Club, which also had a rocky start but managed to improve significantly in the subsequent races.

San Diego’s skipper, Jake La Dow, expressed frustration over the first race but was pleased with the team’s ability to find lanes and capitalise on their speed to recover positions. “We were able to kind of just chip away and use our speed and try to keep clear from all the boats around us and pass one boat at a time,” he noted.

Royal Hong Kong’s Nick Burns, who captained the team with the goal of achieving a podium finish, echoed the sentiment of resilience, stating, “We had a decent start, a little bit back, but held in well.” His tactician, Duncan Gregor, highlighted the challenges faced during the second race, which turned into a gratifying victory for the team.

The Royal Canadian Yacht Club’s skipper, Greg Douglas, shared his thoughts on the nerves that came with the first race, but was proud of the crew’s efforts to recover and secure two podium finishes in the later races. “In those conditions, it’s a lot of fun, it was full on,” he commented, reflecting on the intensity of the competition.

Another highlight was the Royal Swedish Yacht Club, which after a tough start, showcased remarkable downwind speed to finish the day in sixth place with a score of 18 points. Skipper Johanna Sommarlund acknowledged their progress, particularly on the downwinds, while noting room for improvement in their upwind performance.

The regatta will continue through September 13, with racing set to commence daily at 11 am (EDT), weather permitting. Live coverage will be available on Facebook and YouTube, allowing fans worldwide to stay updated with the action.

2025 Rolex New York Yacht Club Invitational Cup
September 6 to 13
New York Yacht Club Harbour Court
Newport, R.I.

1. San Diego (Calif.) Yacht Club (7-1-1) 9 points;
2. Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club (3-4-4) 11 points;
3. Royal Canadian Yacht Club (10-3-2) 15 points;
4. Royal Thames Yacht Club, GBR (2-11-3) 16 points;
5. Yacht Club Costa Smeralda, ITA (1-8-8) 17 points;
6. Royal Swedish Yacht Club (11-2-5) 18 points;
7. Royal Vancouver Yacht Club, CAN (6-RDG/6-RDG/6) 18 points;
8. Corinthian Yacht Club, Marblehead, Mass. (5-7-11) 23 points;
9. New York (N.Y.) Yacht Club (8-9-6) 23 points;
10. Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club, AUS (12-6-10) 28 points;
11. Royal Cork Yacht Club, IRL (14-5-12) 31 points;
12. Yacht Club Punta del Este (4-17-13) 34 points;
13. Howth Yacht Club, IRL (9-16-15) 40 points;
14. Eastern Yacht Club, Marblehead, Mass. (13-15-14) 42 points;
15. Japan Sailing Federation (19-10-16) 45 points;
16. Royal Irish Yacht Club (16-12-18) 46 points;
17. Yacht Club Argentino (18-19-9) 46 points;
18. Yacht Club de Ilhabela, BRA (RET/21-18-7) 46 points;
19. Yacht Club Italiano (15-14-19) 48 points;
20. Itchenor Sailing Club, GBR (17-13-18*) 48 points.
*Score includes 1-point umpire penalty