Lipton Challenge Cup Regatta preview

by Lipton Challenge Cup on 18 Aug 2012 Lipton Challenge Cup Regatta 2012, co-hosted by False Bay Yacht Club and Defence Yacht Club, is being held on False Bay from 19th to 24th August. 25 yachts have bravely risen to take on the week long challenge in the most prestigious event on the sailing calendar, the Lipton Challenge Cup, and one of the teams travelling down to False Bay is the successful team from the Royal Natal Yacht Club.

The century old event will offer sailors from around South Africa extremely trying conditions. The crème-de-la-crème of the country’s ‘yachties’ will travel down to False Bay to begin racing on Sunday 19 August.

This is the third year that the Royal Natal Yacht Clubs’ team, led by South African sailor Ricky Robinson, will be competing together in the Lipton Challenge Cup on the yacht Orion B2G2. The previous two events saw them finish in third position in 2010 and last year, in the hundredth year of this auspicious event, the lads finished sixth – having been in overall contention until the penultimate race.

Commodore for the oldest yacht club in South Africa, Richard Crockett enthused, 'Our club is steeped in history, as is this esteemed event. We have entrusted the challenge to the same team that we believe stands the best chances of bringing the cup home! If our boys do win, it will be the tenth time for the Royal Natal Yacht Club to raise the trophy.'
The crew consists of Ricky Robinson (25) at the helm; ablely assisted by younger brother, Brennan Robinson (23) who has the role of Bowman; William Crockett (20) is the Pitman; Sean Van Rensburg (22) is the Downwind Trimmer and the Upwind Trimmer is Shane Elliot (27).

The crew that have been doing most of their training down in Cape Town, competed in the recent MSC Regatta L26 KZN Provincials and topped the log convincingly when they sailed offshore of Durban, bettering their second in 2011. They also notched up a first place in the L26 Nationals last year. The team have all been recognised for their outstanding performances earning their KZN Sailing Colours which were presented on Saturday. The youngest of the team, William qualified last year and the rest of the team qualified this year.

Defending champion is False Bay Yacht Club with Andrea Giovannini on the yacht Team Intasure Marine Insurance who dethroned Lipton’s heroic skipper, Greg Davis who has his name engraved on the trophy a total of 10 times.

The Lipton Challenge Cup is hosted by the winning team each year, and was last held in Durban in 2003. Joining the Royal Natal Yacht Club in the hopes of bringing back the cup and the race to Durban for 2013, will be Choose Life Co-Ordination skippered by Richard Weddel and Craig Millar leading Henley Midmar Yacht Club Colorpress.

Deep sea sailing action is about to hot up with the one hundred and one hosting of the Lipton Challenge Cup that sees sailors from around the country taking to the waters to compete in this renowned regatta.

Royal Natal Yacht Club’s Lipton Challenge Cup wins: year, vessel and skipper
1958 – Sunmaid, W.I. Hancock; 1959 – Mariquita, W.I. Hancock; 1962 – Mariquita, W.I. Hancock; 1964 – Mariquita, W.I. Hancock; 1965 – Mariquita, W.I. Hancock; 1966 – Mariquita, W.I. Hancock; 1967 – Yvette, R.S. Chedburn; 1971 – Sunrose, J.M. Whittle; 1973 – Sunrose, J.M. Lipton Challenge Cup website