Dun Laoghaire helmsman Tom Higgins has become the first Irish sailor to receive an invitation to skipper an entry in the prestigious youth Governors' Cup Match Racing Championship event in California.
Royal St George's Higgins is an Ad Astra sports scholar at UCD studying Business and Law.
Governors' Cup organisers made contact with UCD following their win at the Student Match Racing event in April. The invitation is a significant achievement not only for him but also for match racing in Ireland.
As regular Afloat readers know, The Governor’s Cup takes place at Balboa Yacht Club in Newport Beach, California and features six days of intense racing in July. Twelve teams from around the world compete in the specially designed Governors Cup 22 boats.
Racing at the Governors' Cup Match Racing Championship event in California Photo: The Governors' Cup
The “Gov Cup '' is the oldest and most prestigious youth match racing event in the world, with alumni of the event believing it to be 'career-changing', going on to win events such as the Congressional Cup, the World Match Racing Tour and even the America's Cup.