Britain and America will go head to head in the final showdown of the 6th series of the BA Cup
by Robin Tott 23 Oct 2025 18:35 UTC
23-26 October 2025
BA Cup 2023 © Simon Winkley Marine
The BA Cup is back in the UK for its deciding match of the 6th Series. This event is the tiebreaker, so it is winner takes all!
First held in 1921, the BA Cup boasts over a century of 4v4 keelboat team racing at the highest level having featured Olympians, World Champions and America's Cup sailors. Following last year's dramatic tie, there is much anticipation for this final event.
The British Team includes Arthur Henderson, Scott Wallis & Andy Cornah, fresh from their victory on American soil at the Lee Family Trophy in Seawanhaka earlier this month, and the fourth skipper is Murray Hampshire, who has won the UK Keelboat Team Racing Championships for the past three years running. Their crews are Tim Gratton, Josh Voller, Jack Hanslope, Guy Brearey, Honor Fell, Rosie Watkins, Calum Healey, Jemima Lawson, Jamie Webb, Matt Wallis, Emma Baker and Simon Morris.
The American Team includes a mix of youth and veterans with Joel Hanneman once again teaming up Andy Herlihy, who is poised to compete in his 12th BA Cup, and younger talents Christopher Williford, and David Thompson. They will be crewed Jon Hammond, Sam Barron-Fox, Dave Constants, Matt Coughlin, Amy Ironmonger, Ed Lebens, Liz Herlihy, Kate Nota, Kyle Shattuck, Sara Stone, Greg Stevens and Mike Welch.
The Match is a best-of-13 series. With races lasting 45 minutes, it is the first team to 7 wins who will be crowned champions of the 6th Series of the BA Cup. So far, the British Team's only series win came in 1924, while the American Team has claimed the other four.
To celebrate the Royal Thames Yacht Club's 250th anniversary and the deciding match of the 6th series a video and display celebrating the history of the BA Cup have been produced. A massive thank you to the BA Cup history sub-committee Simon Morris (video), Sammie Evans, Andy Cornah and Guy Brearey.
On display at the Knightsbridge clubhouse will be the original trophy from the first series, a medal awarded to competitors of the 1930 BA Cup, early photographs, newspaper articles from 1948 and 1951, a receipt from the 2012 BA Cup Party, Hall of Fame and much more. The video captures some rarely seen photographs and film illustrating the enduring appeal and depth of history surrounding this unique event.
Guests and competitors will raise a glass of Nyetimber to the winners at Saturday evening's Prize Giving Dinner.
RTYC Rear Commodore Sailing Tom Partridge said:
"The British-American Cup is one of sailing's most special and unique events, bringing together world-class team racing sailors. Both teams are fiercely determined to claim victory in this the sixth series decider! The last showdown was incredibly close and judging by this season's form, this promises to go right down to the wire."
The Royal Thames would like to thank Significant signs with their support to make the event standout and KSail for providing the results and Noticeboard services plus some very special umpire gifts.
To keep up to date with the progress, make sure to follow the Royal Thames Yacht Club Instagram and Facebook with results updated live at events.ksail.co.uk/RTYC/2025/BACup