The 2025 Admiral’s Cup isn’t just about fast boats and a deep yachting history — it’s packed with familiar Kiwi names, graduates from the RNZYS Mastercard Youth Training Programme, showing the world how NZ grows some of the best sailors out there.

Mastercard YTP graduates are racing across the international fleet with Kiwis making up a large component of crews across a number of yachts.

Check out the names of graduates we’ve been able to find based on the available crew lists:

Justin Ferris – Caro, RNZYS
Celia Willison – Caro, RNZYS
Scott Beavis – Caro, RNZYS

James Dagg – Callisto, RNZYS

Celia Willison – “I’m super excited to be representing the RNZYS in the Admirals Cup this year, with a stacked international team. As youth sailors, we all heard stories about the Admirals Cup over and over from the older club members, so to finally compete in this regatta is going to be an amazing experience. This historic regatta hasn’t been held since 2003, and we are all stoked to see so much enthusiasm around the regatta, with new boats being built and 15 teams entered.”

Oakley Marsh – Jolt Monaco
Cameron Dunn – Jolt Monaco
Robbie Naismith – Jolt Monaco

Logan Andresen – German Team, Bayerische Yacht Club
Chris Skinner – German Team, Bayerische Yacht Club

Nick Egnot-Johnson – Beau Geste, Hong Kong
Gavin Brady – Beau Geste, Hong Kong
Bex Hornell – Beau Geste, Hong Kong
Dave Sweete – Beau Geste, Hong Kong

(If we’ve missed someone – please let us know!)

The RNZYS’s Mastercard Youth Training Programme isn’t just another sailing club programme — it’s the real deal. It’s where young sailors learn not just how to sail faster, but how to think sharper, lead teams, and handle pressure like pros.

The programme has been cranking out talent since 1987, turning local hopefuls into America’s Cup sailors, offshore legends, SailGP athletes, World Match Racing champions, and of course 2025 Admiral’s Cup competitors in the relaunch of the event, which hasn’t been raced since 2003.

RORC Admiral’s Cup July 2025

The Admiral’s Cup is one of the most prestigious trophies to win, with Australia winning the last event held, represented by Wild Oats and Aftershock. New Zealand won the Admiral’s Cup in 1987, represented by Goldcorp, Propaganda and Kiwi.

Rumours in the boat park in Cowes are saying that this years New Zealand team, Caro and Callisto, who are representing the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron, are the hot favourites.

With racing getting underway on Saturday 19th July, the seaside town of Cowes on the Isle of Wight is ablaze with buzz and anticipation. Crews are doing the last bit of prep, and are almost ready to go.

2025 Admirals Cup – The Schedule

• Saturday 19 July – Short Offshore Race (Channel Race)
• Monday 21 July – Lay Day
• Tuesday 22 July – Inshore Races
• Wednesday 23 July – Inshore Races
• Thursday 24 July – Inshore Races
• Friday 25 July – Lay Day (Rolex Fastnet Race Briefing)
• Saturday 26 July – Rolex Fastnet Race

Live Results of the Admirals Cup will be available as they are received.

By Suellen Hurling
Based in Cowes for the Admirals Cup for PredictWind