Sailing Magazine
by Richard Crockett
Again seven yachts competed in the 11th contest with ‘Rapid’ making her first appearance, and ‘Sea Swallow’ dropping out. ‘Rapid’ was designed by Harry Becker and built in 1938. The Merthley Boating Club (MBC) from Natal was competing for the first time, with Ronald Elsdon-Dew as the skipper of ‘Avocet’ which made a return to the contest.
‘Rapid’ had been imported from Sweden by Leon Policansky, and was the longest of her class to be built.
Determining the final result was interesting as a sail-off between the two tied yachts after three races was “impractical” so the sailing committee voted, by secret ballot, to determine the winner!
Race 1
‘Chiquita’ (RNYC) sailed by Jimmy Whittle won the first race on Table Bay. She was two minutes ahead of the defender, ‘Rapid’ (RCYC) being skippered by Gordon Burn Wood.
Reports indicate that there was hardly any wind, with the race being a drifting match more than anything else, as the wind was not sufficient to fill their big genoas!
‘Chiquita’ (RNYC), closely followed by ‘Yvette’ (ZVYC) and ‘Sunmaid’ (SANSA) led to the first mark, while ‘Vanja V’ (PYC), ‘Tarpon’ (HYC) then ‘Avocet’ (MBC) and lastly ‘Rapid’ (RCYC) battled to move in the faint breeze.
At the first buoy, ‘Sunmaid’ (SANSA) took advantage of a private tussle between ‘Yvette’ (ZVYC) and ‘Chiquita’ (RNYC) and started first on the beat towards Robben Island. Here, a flukey but steadily freshening breeze and varied tactics caused a reversal of fortunes.
‘Chiquita’ (RNYC) maintained her lead throughout the reach and run, and well deserved her winning gun.
Race 2
The race was delayed until 13h00 as the harbour authorities replaced the bell buoy which was used for the starting line!
A fresh breeze was blowing at the start, but soon faded away. ‘Rapid’ (RCYC), ‘Sunmaid’ (SANSA), and ‘Vanja V’ (PYC) got away to a good start, but as soon as the wind lightened ‘Yvette’ (ZVYC) came through and took the lead which she steadily increased. ‘Sunmaid’ was second round the first mark, closely followed by ‘Rapid’.
The last leg of the course proved to be very interesting as a tussle had developed between ‘Chiquita’ (RNYC) in second place with ‘Sunmaid’ (SANSA) challenging in a freshening breeze. ‘Rapid’ (RCYC), well up to windward, looked to be challenging for second place, but ended fifth.
‘Yvette’ (ZVYC), skippered by Martin Gronn, had an easy victory in the second round as she won by 11 minutes. Following were ‘Chiquita’, ‘Sunmaid’, ‘Tarpon’ and ‘Rapid’, all within 20 seconds of each other.
So after two rounds ‘Chiquita’ (RNYC) led overall on points, followed by ‘Yvette’ (ZVYC), which meant that the final race was likely to be a thriller.
Race 3
This was won by ‘Rapid’ (RCYC), with the South African Naval Association’s ‘Sunmaid’, skippered by Wilfred Hancock, second, and ‘Yvette’ (ZVYC) third.
The fleet set off in an almost dead calm, with what little breeze there was being in the southeast. The going was slow over the first part of the windward-leeward course as crew had great difficulty keeping their spinnakers full. But at the Robben Island turning point the wind freshened and spinnakers were taken in for the beat home.
At the turning buoy it was anybody’s race. First round was ‘Sunmaid’ (SANSA), followed by ‘Rapid’ (RCYC) about five minutes later. These two yachts had a fine tussle on the windward leg home with ‘Rapid’ slowly gaining all the time to eventually establish a six-foot overlap at the finishing line to win a magnificent race.
‘Yvette’ (ZVYC) sailed a very good race, as, after being neck and neck with ‘Chiquita’ (RNYC) at the first mark she established a large lead over her rival to finish third with ‘Chiquita’ fourth, and ‘Avocet’ (MBC) threatening her.
The result was: 1 ‘Rapid’ (RCYC); 2 ‘Sunmaid’ (SANSA); 3 ‘Yvette’ ZVYC); 4 ‘Chiquita’ (RNYC); 5 ‘Avocet’ (MBC); 6 ‘Tarpon’ (HYC); 7 ‘Vanja V’ (PYC).
This resulted in a tie overall between Zeekoevlei and Royal Natal.
As it was·impracticable to have a sail-off, the Lipton Cup Committee held a meeting, and after a secret ballot, then awarded, under a ruling of the Royal Yachting Association, first place to ‘Yvette’ of the Zeekoe Vlei Yacht Club.
Surprisingly there was no gnashing of teeth, but rather a very sporting acknowledgement by the crew of ‘Chiquita’ that “on her performance in the series, ‘Yvette’ deserved to win the cup”.
Martin Gronn, skipper of ‘Yvette’, said: “It was a most exciting race, and we had to sail for our lives. To win the Cup, we had not only to beat ‘Chiquita’, but to put her back one place”.
In the previous 1955 contest, ‘Yvette’ tied with the Royal Cape Yacht Club’s ‘Tarpon’, resulting in a sail-off which ‘Tarpon’ won.
‘Yvette’s’ crew were: Martin Gronn (skipper); Ronald Knoop; Colin King & Brian Stephens.
READ “THE GOLDEN CUP AND MEN BATTLING FOR IT” HERE: 1956 05 26 – argus – the golden cup and men – 1956 lipton – 003900 – OCR_Redacted
