Sailing Magazine
by Richard Crockett
In 1958 Rapid and Chiquita made way for ‘Sun Rose’ and ‘Sea Swallow’, with the fleet size remaining at eight, as it was in the previous contest. This was ‘Sun Rose’s’ first foray into the Lipton Cup contests. A Knud Reimers design, she was built in 1950.
A massive change to the contest was the addition of two additional races at the request of competitors, making five races in all, the first time there had ever been more than five races in the Lipton Cup. Competitors also requested that the length of each leg be shortened and more rounds added to make for more exciting and competitive racing.
Despite the additional races and shorter legs of the course the first ever five-race “Grand Slam” was recorded.
The fleet was sailing on new waters – those of Algoa Bay as Redhouse Yacht Club, winners the previous year, had nominated the Port Elizabeth venue.
The good folk of Port Elizabeth staged a remarkable event, with many different parties and organisations coming together to create a memorable contest. Kingpin of it all, according to the SA Yachting magazine report, “was Bill Lockhead, Commodore of the Redhouse Yacht Club, who must be one of the most successful stringer-pullers in the service of yachting – for he roped in the Mayor and his councillors, the Divisional Council of Port Elizabeth, the complete facilities of the South African Navy, and a host of others who could not help but respond to his infectious enthusiasm.”
An interesting incident was the fact that a flag pole needed to be erected on the Navy parade ground before the first race. Permission was never forthcoming, so the night before racing commenced, as told to me by Ivan Kohler, the son of Harold, he went to the base and erected the flag pole, only to be arrested by the Military Police. History does not relate the outcome of this!
Despite the well-planned and organised event, the weather did not play ball.
Race 1
This was started in a light easterly which later backed to the west and – with the exception of the race on the Tuesday, when it blew a gale from the west – that sort of weather persisted throughout the five day programme.
This first race provided the extraordinary spectacle of a fleet of yachts spread out in a great arc, with four boat on the starboard tack and four on port, all flying spinnakers, all of which were full and drawing!
‘Sunmaid’ (RNYC), thanks to a lovely reaching start, was never really challenged in this race and when a light westerly came through towards the finish, she had no difficulty in registering her first win. She was followed across the line by ‘Yvette’, Vanja V, ‘Sun Rose’, ‘Trickson II’, ‘Tarpon’, ‘Inger’ and ‘Sea Swallow’.
Race 2
This was more or less a repeat performance of the first contest and was sailed over a quadrilateral course. Light winds were the order of the day and the only outstanding incident was a surprise tack by ‘Trickson II’ (RYC) who held on well past the second mark when the others went about round the buoy, and this tactic lifted her from fifth into second place at the third mark. She could not, however, hold the Maid (‘Sunmaid’) which finished first for the second successive time.
‘Trickson II’ was thus second and was followed across the line by ‘Sun Rose’, ‘Yvette’, ‘Vanja V’, ‘Inger’, ‘Tarpon’ and ‘Sea Swallow’.
Race 3
The third race provided the highly dramatic note of the series. After an hour of scarcely any wind at all, at noon a snarling 50 m.p.h. (43 knots) gale swept down from the west on to the unsuspecting fleet and played havoc with the yachts.
‘Trickson II’, shipped it green, and struggled to make the harbour.
‘Inger’, flayed by the monstrous gusts, and with her mainsail ripped across, drifted south under jib only, until she was taken in tow by a rescue launch. Most boats were struggling under jibs and well-reefed mains a they fought through the spume and spray.
‘Sunmaid’, battered but alive, sailed the entire course under full sail to register one of her finest performances, beating ‘Sun Rose’ and ‘Yvette’ over the line to score yet another win. ‘Tarpon’, ‘Sea Swallow’ and ‘Vanja V’ finished in that order.
Races 4 & 5
The final two races followed the pattern of the usual weather again, thus destroying the faith of the visiting yachtsmen in Port Elizabeth’s notorious winds. With ‘Sunmaid’ a certainly to win the Cup, interest was centred on the battle for second place between ‘Yvette’ (RCYC) and ‘Sun Rose’ (HSC).
‘Yvette’ (RCYC) ended over a mere 12½ points overall ahead of ‘Sun Rose’ which had to be content with a third. Martin Gronn showed all his old cup-winning consistency, but was unable to prevail against the phenomenal run of five firsts scored by Hancock.
So, Wilfred Hancock, his crew, and ‘Sunmaid’, scored the first ever five-race “grand Slam” in a Lipton Cup contest. Of interest is that he lifted the Lipton Cup in the Royal Natal Yacht Clubs centenary year.
Despite his runaway victory, four of the seven other challengers, scored second places – making Hancock’s clean sweep even more remarkable.
It is often taken for granted that the magnificent commemorative plaques presented to each yacht and Club, “just happen”. But, these were beautifully made and hand-painted, as reported in the 1958 issue of SA Yachting magazine, by Len Millard of the RCYC.
The winning crew were: Wilfred Hancock (skipper); Cyril Warne; L. J. Emanuel; Joe Phillips & D. J. Ellis.
READ “GALE TEARS SAILS FROM LIPTON CUP YACHT” HERE: 1958 05 14 – Eastern_Province_Herald – national library_Redacted
