Race 4 of the Admiral’s Cup, held on Wednesday 23 July, offered the last window of insight before the leaderboard reshuffled behind the scenes. A light, shifting northerly tested timing, instincts, and discipline. Only one race was completed before the wind shut down — the last of the six inshore races for which full commentary has been released.
Since then, two more inshore races have been sailed, taking the regatta to seven races in total — one offshore and six inshore — and the series has now reached its midpoint. The Admiral’s Cup 2025 halfway standings confirm what many suspected: it’s now a four-horse race.
Watch the Race 4 highlights
Tactical finesse and tight margins in Race 4
With just enough breeze to race, Race Officer Stuart Childerley set a short windward-leeward course on Wednesday morning. In AC1, Beau Geste (Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club) jumped out to an early lead, but Jolt 3 (Yacht Club de Monaco) closed fast and stole the win by just three seconds on corrected time. Australia’s Zen (CYCA) had their best showing so far with third, while New Zealand’s Caro stayed mid-fleet.
“We had to crash tack with no warning — just a 50-degree header,” Beau Geste tactician Gavin Brady told the admiral’s cup team. “That race tested raw instinct. This regatta has delivered everything — from full-send downwinds to moments like this.”
In AC2, Callisto (Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron) made major gains on the downwind but couldn’t convert to a podium finish. The win went to Nola (KSSS), who capitalised on a bold pin-end start and stayed in phase with the pressure. Beau Ideal (RHKYC) and AMP-lifi (RORC White) took second and third, but Callisto’s consistent scoring remains a bright spot for New Zealand.
After the wind collapsed, further racing was abandoned. The race team committed to resuming the following day — a decision that delivered two more races and clarified the shape of the regatta.
Admiral’s Cup 2025 halfway standings: contenders and chasers
With seven races completed — and the Rolex Fastnet Race still ahead — the Admiral’s Cup 2025 halfway standings show a clear separation:
Leading four teams (in serious contention)
- Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club — 36 pts
- Yacht Club de Monaco — 44 pts
- Yacht Club Costa Smeralda — 59 pts
- Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron — 62 pts
From fifth place down, the gap widens significantly.
Mid-fleet and long shots
- Cruising Yacht Club of Australia — 76 pts
- Royal Swedish Yacht Club — 85 pts
- RORC Red, RORC White, and Royal Maas Yacht Club all on 99 pts
The 14-point jump between 4th and 5th place (RNZYS and CYCA) marks the clearest break point of the regatta so far. It’s now mathematically difficult — though not impossible — for any team outside the top four to mount a serious challenge.
Kiwi hopes alive, Hong Kong continues to impress
From the start, the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron has leaned heavily on Callisto in AC2 — and the boat continues to deliver. After six inshore races, Callisto leads her division with 17 points, ahead of Beau Ideal (19 pts) and Jolt 6 (25 pts). Caro has struggled in AC1, but recent races show improved performance, helping RNZYS stay close to the podium pack.
“We’re right where we need to be,” said Callisto crewman Dean Barker told the RNZYS. “This event will go down to the wire.”
For Hong Kong, the combined effort of Beau Geste and Beau Ideal has created the most balanced team on the water. Kiwi tactician Gavin Brady leads a crew stacked with Mastercard Youth Training Programme alumni, including Nick Egnot-Johnson and Bex Hornell. The Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club’s first-place standing at this point in the competition is no fluke — and they look increasingly like the dark horse favourites to lift the Cup.
Australia’s Zen is quietly building momentum in AC1, particularly inshore. If Back to Black can improve in AC2, the CYCA squad could make a late push. But they’ll need a near-flawless Fastnet Race to do it.
The road to Fastnet: all to play for
The Rolex Fastnet Race, set to begin tomorrow (Saturday 26 July), is the final — and most heavily weighted — race of the Admiral’s Cup. With triple points on the line and only one discard allowed after four inshore races, every team must now deliver when it counts most.
For New Zealand, it’s a shot at redemption. For Hong Kong, a chance to convert promise into history. And for the rest? The climb just got steeper.
Stay tuned for Friday’s rest day briefings — and full coverage of the Rolex Fastnet Race this weekend.
