America’s Cup visits Balboa Yacht Club

The Holy Grail of sailing spent a few hours in Newport Beach on Friday, as young and old boaters marveled at the America’s Cup trophy.

The oldest trophy for international sports competition, the cup was first awarded in England in 1851.

It came to the Balboa Yacht Club as part of the 2012 Governor’s Cup Regatta, a junior match racing event that finishes Sunday. Junior racers from Sweden, New Zealand and Australia are competing against local racers and others from across the U.S.

Balboa Yacht Club member Tom Ehman was scheduled to present an update on the 34th America’s Cup on Friday evening.

Ehman is the vice commodore of Golden Gate Yacht Club, the home of defending winning team, BMW Oracle Racing. The America’s Cup finals are scheduled for September 2013 in San Francisco Bay.

According to Balboa Yacht Club, this was one of a few viewings of the cup on the West Coast.

The 4-foot-tall trophy weighs 33 pounds and is made of sterling silver.

— Mike Reicher

Twitter: @mreicher