The 2026 Rose Cup was decided in dramatic fashion as Peter Herlihy and his New Bedford Yacht Club crew captured the US Youth Match Racing Championship at Oakcliff Sailing in Oyster Bay, New York, June 24–28. Despite exceptionally light winds that challenged sailors and race officials throughout the weekend, the regatta delivered highly competitive racing across the fleet.
“It was a pleasure hosting the young sailors at the Rose Cup,” said Oakcliff Executive Director Dawn Riley. “If this is the future of our sport, specifically match racing, we’re going to be OK!”
Herlihy sailed with crew members Finn Sperry, Sam Sperry, and Eliza Corral, and the championship came down to the regatta’s final race against runners-up Sienna Nichols, Taylor Escola, Maddie Nichols, and Eddie Kleim of Balboa Yacht Club. Herlihy’s team dropped just one race all weekend, finishing with an impressive 7-1 record, while the next three teams were knotted at 6-2.
“A huge thank you to New Bedford Yacht Club for supporting our team and our youth sailing careers,” said winning skipper Peter Herlihy. “We had a great time on and off the water making the most of the event. Thanks to the coaching from Pearson and Ryan, along with the support of all our competitors, we had a blast match racing and can’t wait to do it again. Despite the challenging conditions, Oakcliff and Seawanhaka Corinthian Yacht Club were amazing hosts. A huge thank you to everyone who made the event possible, especially Oakcliff Regatta Director Patrice Rachlin and the many volunteers.”
The championship kicked off with a two-day clinic on Wednesday and Thursday led by three-time US Match Racing Champion Pearson Potts, giving competitors valuable coaching ahead of the round robin.
“I was blown away by the level of competition at this year’s Rose Cup,” said Potts. “There were no slouches in the fleet, and it was anyone’s game after the warning signal. Youth match racing is the heart and soul of our discipline.”
Racing got underway Friday, with two flights completed before the breeze shut down and racing was postponed. A stubborn high-pressure system kept winds calm throughout Saturday, wiping out the entire day’s schedule. Light winds finally filled in on Sunday afternoon, allowing race officials to complete six additional flights totaling 30 races.
“Oakcliff put on a terrific 2026 Youth Match Racing Championship,” said US Sailing Match Racing Committee Representative Ryan Davidson. “The pre-regatta clinic was second to none, with spectacular conditions. Unfortunately, the high-pressure system stalled over Long Island and left us with very challenging light-air conditions. The race management teams from Oakcliff and Seawanhaka did everything in their power to run great races and managed to complete 90 percent of the round robin on the final day. A massive thank you goes to Oakcliff Sailing and their dedicated volunteers for their hospitality, and to Seawanhaka for their support of the event. We look forward to bringing the Rose Cup back to Oyster Bay in the future.”
A perennial highlight of every Rose Cup is the presentation of the Nick Scandone Sportsmanship Award. Named in honor of the late US Paralympic Gold Medalist Nick Scandone, the award recognizes sailors who exemplify perseverance, sportsmanship, and respect for their competitors. Despite battling ALS (Lou Gehrig’s disease), Scandone continued competing against both able-bodied and adaptive sailors before winning Paralympic gold at the 2008 Beijing Games. His determination continues to inspire generations of sailors.
The 2026 Nick Scandone Sportsmanship Award was presented to Qi Yan, Sophia Corzine, Oliver Ernest, and Drew Gerlach of Balboa Yacht Club.
“Although there wasn’t much wind or racing, every team made the most of it,” said Davidson. “We found ways to connect with one another on and off the water, building new friendships throughout the week. Thank you to Oakcliff Sailing, US Sailing, Pearson Potts, and everyone who contributed to making this event possible.”
The 2027 US Youth Match Racing Championship for the Rose Cup will return in June 2027 at Annapolis Yacht Club. Interested skippers may submit a Request for Invitation beginning in January 2027. Applications close on April 1, 2027.
