Sailing Magazine
by Richard Crockett
The fleet was back to seven again as ‘Sunmaid’ and ‘Rapid’ dropped out and ‘Mariquita’ (FBYC) once again joined the contest.
This contest is remembered for the “grand slam” scored by David Cox, the Commodore of the Point Yacht, sailing ‘Tintomara’. The last “grand slam” having been that of Wilfred Hancock and ‘Mariquita’ in 1966, as well as with ‘Sunmaid’ in 1958. These two Durban skippers were the only ones to have grand-slammed in a five race series during this era.
The runner-up was Jimmy Whittle, skippering ‘Sun Rose’ (RNYC), who won the previous contest in the same waters. The result had a certain irony as Whittle owned both ‘Tintomara’ and ‘Sun Rose’.
‘Sun Rose’ was in beautiful condition and the tender loving care lavished on her by Whittle and his crew, Joe Harris. Cyril Warne and Ron Kode and his son Arne, was quite evident. In a fleet of rather aging ladies she stood out as the one who had aged the most gracefully.
On the eve of the first race ‘Sun Rose’ and ‘Tintomara’ were joint favourites, but the ferry drivers’ money was placed firmly on ‘Tintomara’ and the event became known as the Ferry Drivers’ Stakes!
There was quite a bit of psyching going on, with stories of sail trimming gadgetry and a fantastic new spinnaker – especially cut for the expected wind conditions of the event by David Cox – on ‘Tintomara’.
Race 1
Wind conditions were ideal with an 8-10 knot north-easterly blowing. Unfortunately there was a misunderstanding on the guardship about the bearing of the windward mark from the start line. The course displayed was 010 – a true bearing and not a magnetic bearing as stipulated in the sailing instructions.
‘Tintomara’ got off to the best start with sheets eased heading for the first mark which she supposed was bearing 010. Most of the fleet followed suit.
Eventually it became clear that the windward mark was some distance to weather. ‘Mariquita’ and ‘Hjalmaren’ (ZLYC), who had taken a short tack to weather after the start rounded the weather mark first and second with ‘Tintomara’, fast making up for lost time, third.
However, ‘Mariquita’ and ‘Hjalmaren’ pulled off around the windward mark and set spinnaker, expecting to find the wing mark downwind. But their navigation was wrong and they quickly had to down their spinnakers and harden sheets.
‘Mariquita’ rounded the wing mark first only seconds ahead of ‘Tintomara’, who immediately overtook her with some fast spinnaker work. Next around were ‘Hjalmaren’ and ‘Sun Rose’ in close company.
‘Tintomara’ led around the leeward mark with ‘Sun Rose’ about a minute astern. But on the next windward leg, ‘Sun Rose’ pointed higher and footed as fast as ‘Tintomara’ to make up the distance and rounded the windward mark half a boat-length ahead.
The downwind leg proved to be extremely exciting with ‘Tintomara’ hovering only inches away from ‘Sun Rose’s’ stern all the way to the leeward mark where, with some neat manoeuvring, ‘Tintomara’ won the inside berth and romped away on the windward leg to win by 2 minutes 24 seconds.
Race 2
The north-easterly blew throughout the night, and by the start of the second race the next day there was a very bumpy sea running, with the winds gusting 20 knots.
‘Tarpon’ got away to the best start well ahead of the fleet with ‘Yvette’, ‘Sun Rose’, ‘Mariquita’ and ‘Tintomara’ fighting it out down fleet.
‘Trickson II’ was forced to retire when her forehatch carried away and she began to ship seas green over the bow. ‘Hjalmaren’ also retired.
John Waller had ‘Tarpon’ going very well and rounded the windward mark first followed by ‘Tintomara’, ‘Yvette’ and ‘Sun Rose’. The leg to the wing mark was very hairy with some wild surfing down the short, steep swells.
The positions remained the same to the leeward mark, but on the next windward leg ‘Tintomara’ overtook ‘Tarpon’ to round first and set spinnaker on another fast downwind leg. ‘Yvette’ and ‘Tarpon’, who both had gear problems could not set spinnaker and were both overtaken by ‘Sun Rose’ who rounded the leeward mark second and began chasing ‘Tintomara’, who was taking water fast.
‘Sun Rose’ began to close the gap, but unfortunately tore her genoa while tacking, and lost time changing headsails.
This gave ‘Tintomara’ her best win of the series – 8 minutes 34 seconds. ‘Sun Rose’ finished second with ‘Yvette’ third and ‘Tarpon’ fourth.
During this race the fleet really showed its age, with most of the boats having gear failures and serious water problems.
Race 3
This was in direct contrast to the previous day’s race and had to be postponed until a faint whisper came out of the south. ‘Sun Rose’ lead the fleet on a close reach to the first mark. Unfortunately, she had been recalled but failed to respond and re-cross the line. ‘Sun Rose’ rounded the first mark just ahead of ‘Yvette’, with ‘Tintomara’ third. ‘Tintomara’ immediately gybed and set spinnaker – a manoeuvre which won her the race. This leg was painfully slow with virtually no wind at all – the proverbial Lipton Cup gale – but ‘Tintomara’s’ crew managed to catch whatever whispers there were and she drew away to round the next mark well ahead. The next leg was a close reach, which was again painfully slow, but ‘Tintomara’ held her lead to win on a course shortened to one round.
‘Yvette’ and ‘Trickson II’ were locked in a great struggle for second place, with ‘Trickson II’ just getting in ahead by five second after coming from behind.
Race 4
A light south-westerly blew with Helmut Franschlader in ‘Mariquita’ getting off to the best start, closely followed by ‘Trickson II’, ‘Yvette’, ‘Sun Rose’, ‘Hjalmaren’ and ‘Tarpon’.
‘Tintomara’ hit the outer start mark and had to re-round, to get away well back. Jimmy Whittle was sailing ‘Sun Rose’ extremely well and rounded the windward mark first with ‘Hjalmaren’ and ‘Tarpon’ second and third and ‘Tintomara’ fourth. By the wing mark ‘Sun Rose’ had a comfortable lead from ‘Tintomara’, who had overtaken the second and third boats on the spinnaker leg.
‘Tintomara’ began closing, and by the windward mark was about 1 ½ minutes behind ‘Sun Rose’, who rounded and hoisted spinnaker. This turned out to be a fatal mistake as ‘Tintomara’ did not and closed to within five boat lengths.
‘Sun Rose’s’ crew dowsed spinnaker, but ‘Tintomara’ crept through her weather to round the last mark first and went on to win by 2½ minutes, with ‘Tarpon’ a very good third.
Race 5
This was sailed in a 10 – 12 knot north-easter and ‘Tintomara’ made no mistake to cross the fleet with a well judged port start. She lead all the way around the course, closely covering her nearest rivals, to finish over four minutes ahead and complete the grand slam.
‘Tarpon’ and ‘Sun Rose’ had a good battle, with ‘Sun Rose’ coming in second, with John Waller and his young crew in ‘Tarpon’, third.
Peter Cardwell, SA Yachting’s scribe for this contest, posed some tough questions after the contest.
What gave ‘Tintomara’ her resounding victory?
Guy Reynolds, the race officer during the week, said at the prize giving that he was glad to see that “some professional sailing had been introduced to a moribund class”.
Jimmy Whittle was quoted in the daily press as saying that it was the near specialist knowledge on ‘Tintomara’’s crew which gave her the Lipton Cup. Superior sail trimming and some excellent sail handling in tight manoeuvres.
And whether the 30 square metre class?
How much longer can these graceful old ladies (and elegant they are) last? Tuesday’s blow showed that the boats are getting old and are on their last legs.
Yachtsmen have been saying for some time now: “Next season must be the last season. They can’t possibly last any longer.”
The Lipton Cup as an event shouldn’t die, all yachtsmen would agree. But surely now is the time for the 30 Square Metre Owners’ Association to get together and make a far-sighted decision to move away from 30 squares and sponsor an international class such as the IYRU Keelboat?
However, rumours during the week had it that the Owners’ Association were looking into the possibility of importing 30 squares in fibre-glass.
With the IYRU Keel boat proving itself as a keel boat (and keelboats is what the Lipton Cup is all about), surely it would be a lot easier to sponsor an internationally recognised craft rather than perpetuating in modern materials a boat which is now outmoded and is clearly not suitable for local conditions?
The writing was on the wall for the 30-Square Metre class!
‘Tintomara’’s Winning Crew Were: David Cox (skipper); Rob Harris; Dave Wentzel; Peter Cardwell & Paul Green.
READ “The Thorougbread of Yachts is Racing AND Tintomara Wins Lipton Cup Round HERE; 1972 07 04 – natal mercury – tintomara wins – national library – Redacted
