The stage set for a showdown
The 2025 Rolex New York Yacht Club Invitational Cup came down to a single race in Newport, Rhode Island. San Diego Yacht Club, long-time leader of the regatta, carried the yellow spinnaker into the finale but with their cushion reduced. Royal Vancouver Yacht Club had surged into second after a sparkling 5-1-1 on Day 4, knowing they needed to finish with seven boats between themselves and San Diego to steal the title. Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club remained close enough to challenge, making it a three-way fight for one of the sport’s most prestigious Corinthian trophies.
Trouble from the start
San Diego’s bid nearly unravelled on the first beat. Forced into a crash tack, they slipped into a low lane and then became pinned in heavy traffic on the starboard layline. “We had an unexpected crash tack come at us… everybody was stacked up on the layline and there was no where to go,” recalled tactician Adam Roberts. “We ended up ducking everybody. It was a definite down moment.”
By the top mark they were a distant 17th, with both Hong Kong and Vancouver well ahead. At that stage the virtual leaderboard showed the Cup could go anywhere.
Momentum shifts across the course
Royal Hong Kong struck early with a bold jibe set, cutting into the fleet and moving up to fourth. “The jibe set was pretty strong, and we gained a lot from that,” said 21-year-old tactician Duncan Gregor. Vancouver’s approach was steadier, chipping away with solid boatspeed. Skipper Ben Mumford explained: “The plan was to go left… It didn’t materialize, we struggled to get back into the fray. That was the tightest stadium-style racing that we’ve done.”
At the second leeward mark, the standings suggested a three-way tie: Hong Kong in fourth, Vancouver seventh, San Diego thirteenth.
San Diego’s escape
The break came at the final leeward gate when an umpire penalty on a rival boat opened a clear lane. San Diego seized it. With Roberts calling shifts and four-time Cup champion Rick Merriman trimming mainsheet, skipper Jake La Dow guided the team through clean manoeuvres. “It starts with that leeward mark rounding… Luckily, we did. Then we had a quick tack, found our wheels, had clean air… and that’s what it takes,” Roberts said.
From 15th they stormed up to eighth on the final beat, edging Royal Vancouver at the finish. It was enough to secure the championship.
Relief and reflection
San Diego’s margin was slim but decisive: 63 points to Hong Kong’s 68 and Vancouver’s 70.1. “We passed San Diego twice, and it just didn’t materialize in the end,” admitted Mumford. “Hong Kong sailed an amazing series, and San Diego just crushed it, just top notch.”
For Roberts, the victory carried extra weight after past near-misses. “It was relief, like just a huge weight off our shoulders. But also, extreme excitement. It’s such a difficult event. I feel like this was one of the strongest Invitational Cups ever.”
Final standings and highlights
Corinthian Yacht Club finished fourth on 80 points, while Royal Cork Yacht Club, the only club to contest all nine editions, took fifth on 93. Royal Swedish and Royal Canadian both stayed inside the top ten, while New York Yacht Club salvaged ninth with a dominant win in the last race.
For the Australians, Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club ended 14th, reflecting the challenge of maintaining consistency in such an evenly matched IC37 fleet. Further down the order, Itchenor, Ilhabela, and Argentino each had their moments but could not break free of the lower ranks.
2025 Rolex NYYC Invitational Cup – final results
San Diego Yacht Club (USA) – 63 pts
Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club (HKG) – 68 pts
Royal Vancouver Yacht Club (CAN) – 70.1 pts
Corinthian Yacht Club (USA) – 80 pts
Royal Cork Yacht Club (IRL) – 93 pts
Royal Swedish Yacht Club (SWE) – 95 pts
Royal Canadian Yacht Club (CAN) – 99 pts
Royal Thames Yacht Club (GBR) – 105 pts
New York Yacht Club (USA) – 108 pts
Eastern Yacht Club (USA) – 109 pts
Yacht Club Costa Smeralda (ITA) – 116 pts
Howth Yacht Club (IRL) – 126 pts
Japan Sailing Federation (JPN) – 131 pts
Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club (AUS) – 158 pts
Yacht Club Italiano (ITA) – 165 pts
Royal Irish Yacht Club (IRL) – 168 pts
Itchenor Yacht Club (GBR) – 176 pts
Yacht Club Punta del Este (URU) – 182 pts
Yacht Club de Ilhabela (BRA) – 190 pts
Yacht Club Argentino (ARG) – 201 pts
The 2025 Rolex New York Yacht Club Invitational Cup will be remembered not only for San Diego’s hard-fought victory, but for the depth and intensity across the fleet. From Hong Kong’s bold tactics to Vancouver’s relentless charge and Itchenor’s emotional win, every team added to a narrative of drama and determination. The event reaffirmed the Invitational Cup as the pinnacle of Corinthian one-design racing, where preparation meets pressure and nothing is guaranteed until the last mark. For Newport’s Harbour Court and the international crews, this edition set a new benchmark for competitiveness and sporting spirit.
