By Barry Ault
When I walk into the SDYC lobby I am stunned by the beauty and craftsmanship embodied in the Lipton Cup. Looking closely, you can find a record of 110 years of competition including the names of the yachts which have won. These champions have ranged from classic beauties to purpose built racing machines. The large majority of the competing boats were club member’s boats brought together under one handicap rule or another. I am drawn to the boats of old that came from the craftsman’s hand rather than the mold but it is fascinating to see how the clubs and the designers and the rules mixed together to win the Lipton Cup.
Detroit, the winner of the first two challenges, was a stripped out racing thoroughbred that defied the rules calling for interior accommodations. The winners of that early era were similar with gaff rigs and long overhangs. Following Detroit, the Cup was won by Mischief II, Trilby (3 wins), Gretchen (3), Aeolus (2), Genevieve, Galliano, Mischief I, and Lady Betty. 1923 signaled the exit of the gaff and the arrival of the fast R boat which reeled off 6 wins in a row; Angelia (3), Patricia, Pirate and Debra. The International 6 meter May_Be broke through in 1929 followed by Caprice. 1931 was marked by the passing of Sir Thomas Lipton and the lone Cup victory by a PC, Scamp II.
In 1932, the deed of gift was changed eliminating handicaps and making it a boat for boat event. The 6 meters extended their string for a while longer with Caprice, Gallant, Pirate, Mystery, Lanai and Rebel and then came the bigger boats Angelita (8 meter) and Sally II (10 Meter). Few boats made it through the scavenging of WWII and in 1946 new, yet still classic designs began winning including PCCs Ray, Antigua, Ballerina and sloops Sparkle and Bongo. Overall, however, the 20 years following the war were dominated by the Cal 32 and featured the winningest Lipton Cup boat of all time, Escapade (’48, ’50, ’51, ’53, ’54, ‘55). Other Cal 32 winners were: Andale (2), Amorita (2), Cholita (2) and Altamar. Then in 1965, out of the past, came the 1925 Q class Cotton Blossom II. This classic era played out with sloops Ingenue, Emily II, Carousel, Hallelujah, Chimara, Brushfire and the not so classic Tomahawk II and America Jane.
1973 saw another rule change to the “Gran Prix” International Offshore Rule with its accompanying technology and design arms race. Not surprisingly, this boiled down to a shootout between designers (including locals Doug Peterson, Bruce Nelson and John Reichel). These boats were surely not “classic” but were powerful and fast. Wins were passed around between; Invader, Vendetta, Tin Woodsman, America Jane II, Windmiller, Dogpatch, Free Enterprise, Flambouyant, Brooke Ann, Big Wig, Crackerjack, Reliance (2), Electra, Saeta, Cadenza, Camouflage and Quintessence.
One design racing, like NASCAR, always seems to produce exciting events so in 1992, with clubs tired of racing dissimilar boats, the Shock 35 was selected to be “the” Lipton Cup boat. Racing was close and “the winners were”; Bold Forbes, Buttercup (4), Shillelagh, Wild Thing, Hot Spur (2) and Kathmandu. In 2002 “the” boat was changed to the newer J105. Under the same rules, racing was again close with winners: Pholly, Nemesis, Bold Forbes, Wings (4) and J-OK.
Since 2011, SDYC has hosted the event in identically prepared J105s in a round-robin format where teams rotate from boat to boat keeping the playing field level. With an emphasis on the crews’ performance, no boat can be said to have won but the competition between clubs is as keen and ever. So far the score under this format is SDYC 2 wins and California YC 1. The real winners, as they have been for 110 years, are the sailors and the Lipton Cup Challenge which continues to reign as one of the premier regattas on the pacific coast.