New York Yacht Club Ends 11-Year Wait for Morgan Cup Title

10th August 2026

Afloat.ie Team

Home Triumph: New York Yacht Club's Pete Levesque-led team celebrates its first Morgan Cup victory since 2015 after defeating Larchmont Yacht Club at Harbour Court in Newport

New York Yacht Club claimed its first Morgan Cup title in 11 years after defeating Larchmont Yacht Club in the final of the 2026 Invitational Team Race Regatta at Harbour Court, Newport, Rhode Island.

The host club, led by team captain Pete Levesque, secured the prestigious trophy for the first time since 2015 after overcoming Larchmont in the best-of-five final. The two clubs finished level on 16 wins and seven losses after the round-robin stages before meeting in the championship decider.

Hoist Away: Crew on boat 010 work quickly through a spinnaker hoist during the New York Yacht Club Invitational Team Race Regatta for the Morgan Cup at Harbour Court, where every manoeuvre proved decisive in the battle for victory. Photo: New York YC

New York took control of the fourth race when a Larchmont boat was penalised for a pre-start foul and required to complete a 720-degree turn, handing the hosts the advantage they needed to seal victory.

"It feels really good to have this group of sailors experience that," said Levesque, who also skippered New York's previous Morgan Cup-winning team in 2015. "It's been a long time since New York has won, so it feels really good."

Levesque credited the team's experience and preparation for the result. "Everybody has sailed together for a while," he said. "The three drivers have sailed together on teams for a while, and we had a lot of practices in really terrible conditions, so we were ready for the waves and the chop and the light air."

Defending champions Corinthian Yacht Club of Marblehead finished third with a 15-8 record, while Newport Harbour Yacht Club placed fourth on 13-10.

Close Quarters: Boat 015 powers through the chop in tight company during Morgan Cup racing at Harbour Court as teams traded positions in fast-paced tactical duels on Narragansett Bay. Photo: New York YC

Levesque also praised the wider club effort behind the victory. "There's so many people that put so much effort and time and resources into team racing here," he said. "It's nice to validate the efforts and come home with the win and defend the home turf."

The New York Yacht Club's team racing programme continues later this month with the Hinman Masters Team Race before the inaugural Women's International Championship, and the Resolute Cup concludes the club's 2026 regatta season.

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About Team Racing

Team racing in sailing is an exciting, strategy-focused format where two teams, usually with three boats each, compete to achieve the best combined score by the end of the race. Unlike fleet racing, where individual performance matters most, team racing emphasises teamwork, tactics, and boat positioning to outmanoeuvre the opposing team.

Each team typically has three boats, often two-person dinghies like the Firefly class. The boats from each team are distinguished by their unique sail colours or numbers.

Points are assigned to finishing positions, with 1 point for 1st place, 2 points for 2nd place, and so on. The team with the lowest combined score wins. The target is to achieve a "winning combination" of points. In a six-boat race (three per team), winning combinations include scores like 10 points or less for a 1-2-6 or a 2-3-5 finish.

Teams can slow down or block opposing boats, especially in an advantageous position. A boat ahead can "cover" an opponent, manoeuvring to block the wind and slow them down.

Teams often employ manoeuvres to help slower boats catch up or pass opponents, switching positions if needed. This keeps the team in a winning configuration.

At key turning points, boats can execute mark traps, where they intentionally slow down or position themselves to block opponents, forcing them into bad turns or causing them to lose speed.

Team racing follows standard sailing rules but with some additions tailored to team tactics. For example, a "fouling" boat (one that breaks a rule) must complete a penalty turn or even multiple turns, depending on the rule violation. Penalty management is crucial as it can make or break a team's success in the race.

Constant communication is key as team members coordinate strategies, adjust for wind shifts, and adapt to changes in the race. They signal intentions, warn of opponents' moves, and ensure every team member’s position is optimized.

In short, team racing combines fast-paced sailing with strategic teamwork. While speed is essential, winning often depends more on positioning, communication, and the ability to execute effective tactics as a team.