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by Richard Crockett A year after the inaugural 30-Square Lipton contest in 1952, the fleet of 30-Squares in the country had grown, with the Royal Cape Yacht Club (RCYC) having three on their register, thus piquing interest in the Lipton Cup even further, and there being a concerted effort to contest and return the Cup to the Cape. These yachts were ‘Sea Swallow’ (owner Gill Bartholomew); ‘Sunmaid’ (owner W B “Billy” Kingswell) and ‘Tarpon’ (owner Arthur Austin). ‘Sunmaid’ and ‘Tarpon’ …

by Richard Crockett At the end of the 1923 series, competition for the cup wallowed in the doldrums of the depression, unsuitable craft in the contest areas, and the war years. There were several calls to revive the contest, but all came to nought until 1952 when interest soared due to a class of yacht, new to this country, namely the Swedish bred 30-Square Metres. These yachts were characterised by their easily driven hulls, long overhangs, rakish tall masts and …

by Richard Crockett The RCYC again issued a challenge, and again the two same boats and skippers competed – and again a farcical result saw the PYC win the cup for the sixth consecutive time. The Natal Mercury reported “never before has the ‘Erica’ been in better condition: her crew has undergone strenuous training during the past year, and they have arrived here with the firm determination to carry the Lipton Cup home with them.” On her way to the …

1922 08 24 – mercuryby Richard Crockett During 1921 the PYC gave advance notice of the dates for the following (next) contest, those being in August 1922, thus giving the challenger sufficient time to plan, prepare and contest. ‘Erica’ had been stored in a Cape Town shed during the war. The syndicate which owned her, indicated in May 1922, that she was at the Club’s disposal for the contest, resulting in the RCYC issuing the PYC with a challenge. Advocate …

by Richard Crockett For the second year the same protagonists competed for the honours, Herbie Spradbrow defending the Cup for the PYC in ‘Skebenga’, and Jimmy Van Niekerk being the defender in ‘Erica’ under the new Royal Cape Yacht Club burgee. The first race, on the triangular course with legs of 5nm each was something of a drifter and won by over four minutes by ‘Skebenga’, who was said to have been faster to windward and pointed much higher than …

by Richard Crockett In April 1913 the Cape Times mentioned July as the time of event in Durban, saying that the winds would lighter then, so ‘Erica’ will be favoured to win. RCYC was taking the challenge seriously and had been ‘Erica’ overhauled, plus were having crew selections. Protea was for sale and an offer by a Durban syndicate to buy her fell through as price was the obstacle. The Woodstock Naval Cadets did not compete as they were still …

by Richard Crockett 1912 Contest Build-Up The 1911 whitewash dished out by Nick Chiazzari and his Point Yacht Club crew hurt the Royal Cape Yacht Club members, and Cape yachtsmen in general, so much so that their defeat immediately galvanised them into action early in an attempt to wrest back the coveted Cup. Plans were hatched to have a challenger built, fund-raising functions were held, and ultimately a syndicate was formed of members of the RCYC, headed by Advocate Upington, …

  by Richard Crockett For most of this year I have spent an inordinate amount of time researching the Lipton Cup from its very beginnings to the present day. Always with one goal in mind – that being to collate as much material as I could on the 6-8 Metre Challenge era and the 30-Square Metre era. My rationale was simple; few people today know the history of the Lipton Cup from those periods, but most can relate back to …

By Richard Crockett Entries have now closed for this years contest, the 72nd, with 16 teams challenging the Hermanus Yacht Club and Calvin Gibbs for bragging rights. Racing is between 25 and 29 August on Table Bay. The Challenger of Record is the Royal Cape Yacht Club with David Rae as skipper. Although some people thought the number of entries would increase quite dramatically after last years very successful first year in J22s, the Lipton Cup is all about quality …

by Richard Crockett Every single mention of the yacht ‘Voortrekker’ in this Blog and in issues of SAILING Magazine have always received a warm welcome and good comments from people around the world who sailed on her or just followed her progress at every opportunity. So it gives me great pleasure to be able to share the fact that the grand old lady has begun the first steps to a full restoration and to becoming a museum piece. After 58 …

By Richard Crockett While FD afficionados will get excited about the above heading, it was the fact that the South African designed and built Spearhead turned heads at this one-of-a-kind regatta in Anzio, Italy. Not only did the Franks Spears designed Spearhead turn heads, but it finished 8th overall and was runner-up in Group 3. “‘Vaurien’, built in plastic by L.M.A. of Rome made its official appearance in Anzio and for the first time in Italy intermediate dinghies such as …

By Richard Crockett Today’s Club Notes are short in terms of Club features yet full of photos with two pages of “people pics”, and many more. The Headlines Are: • Durban Doings by Bianca Lavies • West Cape Get-Togethers – Page of People Pics • Opening Cruise Frolics At Durban – Page of People Pics • Island Sailing Club • Ladysmith Boating Club READ IT ALL HERE:  1966 11 – SA Yachting – club notes from november 1966 – OCR

By Richard Crockett This regatta was obviously a very important one as it is covered in almost eight pages in the November 1966 issue of SA Yachting magazine. There were some 200 boats competing at Aeolians Club on the Vaal Dam – the very first time this club had ever hosted a key regatta. Another first was the fact that two courses were set – with each having its own committee boat from which the starting signals were made. Up …

By Richard Crockett Since the beginning of this year I have systematically been sharing features on a daily basis from early SA Yachting magazines. Coincidently, today, the first ever hint that our country may enter the Singlehanded Transatlantic Race was floated. Coincidently, as on Friday, ‘Voortrekker’, the yacht which ultimately competed in that event, was moved to her resting place in Simonstown where she will be restored and kept on permanent display for the public to explore. It’s taken a …

By Richard Crockett I am departing from my normal course today and assisting a follower of this Blog to enquire if anyone knows the whereabouts of the gaff-rigged ketch ‘Atalanta’ – or better still, whether she is still alive and sailing? ‘Atalanta’ was designed by Norman Ross and built in Cape Town by Dahl & Richards. She was commissioned by Frank Kuttel and his wife Mary who was a regular member of the crew. Kuttel sold her to a Mr. …