New sponsors announced, inaugural Lipton Regatta

by Mike Sabey on 10 Oct 2006 Four sponsors have been appointed to help drive the new inter club Lipton Racing Regatta that takes to the northern waters of Port Phillip this November.

In announcing the all new event which is expected to attract up to 200 craft, Royal Yacht Club of Victoria’s new Commodore Michael Smith says, 'The Lipton Racing Regatta welcomes aboard Melbourne City Lexus, radio station 3AW, Champagne Mumm and Nautilus Marine Insurance Agency.

Station 3AW will provide sports news coverage of the event on its new 693 am frequency.

To be staged from Friday 17th to Sunday 19th November 2006 by the Royal Yacht Club of Victoria, the new Regatta is a high standard four race series, especially for Victorian boats tackling this year’s Sydney-Hobart, Westcoaster and Australian keelboat titles.

It will embrace Victoria’s top grand prix racers down to cruisers and even the beautiful classic wooden boats from the major keelboat clubs on Port Phillip.'

Entries are now flowing in with the first paid up entry being received from Richard Gate’s RYCV based wooden classic the 10.5m Laurent Giles Wanita. It was followed closely by Lou Abrahams grand prix Sydney 38 Challenge and Chris Dare’s state of the art Corby 47 Flirt that are both doing this year’s Sydney-Hobart.

Five leading Bay clubs include Sandringham Yacht Club, Royal Brighton Yacht Club, Royal Melbourne yacht Squadron and Hobsons Bay Yacht Club together with RYCV have jointly rescheduled their weekend sailing programmes to ensure their boats are on the start line.

SYC’s Sailing Captain Chris Waters says, 'Our club is keen to support programmes that provide our members with accessible, competitive and fun events. It looks like the Lipton Regatta can fulfill all of those criteria! It's close by, the sailing program will cater for a really wide range of needs, and a good social program even offers a bus service back to participating clubs.

RBYC’s new Sailing Captain Paul Woodman says, 'We fully support this new regatta because we believe more integrated inter club events like this one should be run to help promote sailing. Our boats will sail for the EB Green Trophy within the regatta.'

RMYS’ Sailing Captain Mark Buckley says, 'We like the concept of the Friday twilight invitational race because it will give many of our keelboat crews that don’t have many opportunities to do overnight and weekend regattas a chance to getaway.'

HBYC’s Sailing Captain David Judge says, 'This new regatta which is on our doorstep promises a good mix of top racing together with an excellent social programme ashore. I’m drawn to the Lipton trophy which looks a little like a small Americas Cup and it brings with it a rich history dating back 90 years since it was last presented.'

The major prize is the Lipton Cup, presented to Royals by the legendry tea merchant Sir Thomas Lipton, who tried five times unsuccessfully in the early 1900s to regain the Americas Cup for England from the USA.

In Melbourne, the Lipton Cup was last awarded in 1909 to the yacht 'Helen' but it subsequently disappeared for nearly 90 years until the Church family gifted it back to Royals in the mid 1990s.

Over three days, the Lipton Racing Regatta will attract up to 3,000 competitors and supporters to the Williamstown waterfront, where bands, BBQs, breakfasts, presentations and meals will be served from dawn until dusk.

Commodore Smith says, 'Our Club will accommodate as many of the 200 boats as is possible in our marina and plan to run a crews courtesy bus to the eastern suburbs clubs.'

Notices of Race are now out and widely distributed to keelboat owners and clubs. Entries and more information can be found on line at the regatta website: www.rycv.liptonregatta.com


Lipton Racing Regatta at a Glance

When: Friday 17, Saturday 18 & Sunday 19 November 2006

What: Short Regatta with a focus on Racing

From: Royal Yacht Club of Victoria – Nelsons Place Williamstown

Sponsored by Melbourne City Lexus, 3AW, Champagne Mumm & Nautilus Marine Insurance Agency