Please select your home edition
Edition
Armstrong 728x90 - Performance Mast Range - TOP

Kip Regatta celebrates 25 years of sailing

by Marc Turner 11 May 2014 13:13 PDT 10-11 May 2014
Kip Regatta 2014 © Marc Turner / www.pfmpictures.co.uk
Kip Regatta 2014 ©Marc Turner / www.pfmpictures.co.uk
previous next
  1. 1
  2. 2
  3. 3
  4. 4
  5. 5
  6. 6
  7. 7

The Kip Regatta celebrates its 25th Anniversary in May this year - a marriage, between Kip Marina and Royal Western Yacht Club, that has successfully stood the test of time.

Throughout the years Kip Regatta has partnered with a variety of sponsors, and is currently enjoying a long relationship with property company Savills.

Starting life in 1989 as The Kip International, named after its first sponsor International Paints, the Regatta has seen many changes over the years. Always following the One Design format (with similar boat models competing against each other), there were many changes ahead including CHS handicap being reinvented as the IRC (in date), sailing courses changing format, and three day races becoming the norm.

1989 saw the three handicap classes at the start line: IODs, Pipers, Loch Longs and Etchells. By1994 the Regatta had reached a mammoth ten classes and a new sponsor, Mount Gay Rum, provided their famous red caps, which can still be spotted at sailing events across the globe.

Further One Design classes were introduced over the years, like the Sigma 33, 38, and the infamous Sonatas and Sportboats. All added to the fleet size and combined to make the Kip Regatta a popular fixture in the Scottish sailing calendar, and the first 'major' regatta of the season.

Some boats have become notorious, including By the Way, Bullet iv, Toucan, Showdown, Chorus line, Arthur, Local Hero, Playback,Crackerjack and Salamander.

From Royal Western's point of view, the reputation of Kip Regatta was building year on year, and in terms of attendance, it was becoming more popular than their famous Tighnabruaich weekend.

In 1997 Royal Western introduced one of the club's most prestigious pieces of silverware the A W Steven Trophy. This was to become the most sought after prize on the Clyde as it was presented to the best overall performance from all the classes, and was awarded for the first time to the ½ tonner Sagacious.

Into the 21st century and Kip Regatta was proving as popular as ever, with 11 classes and over 70 boats on the water. The IRC Handicap classes 1 & 2 attracted the biggest numbers, with 21 & 17 boats respectively, but a healthy Sigma 33 class was still around with ten.

2000's overall winner was Allan Marr with his Etchells Flying Colours, and from then onwards the awards ping-ponged between Donald Sharps X-332 Tundra and John Corsons Elan 333s "Salamander", until 2006 when Graeme Hutchison came along with the mighty Jaru and Opal Marine became the principal sponsor.

2007 brought our current sponsor and the Savills Kip Regatta was born. Savills West Coast Director Andrew Perratt, a keen local sailor, saw an opportunity to promote the company name to a wide and growing audience. His "Grand Cru" team has participated at every regatta since, but to date has always allowed another competitor to take the title!

Another "local hero" the Bashford 41 took the overall trophy in 2007, skippered by Geoff Howison, while Keith Lord brought Acrewed Interest up from the Isle of Man for the 2008 title.

2011 saw Jim Dick begin his winning streak in Scotland, with the J-97 Jackaroo. Another popular win came the following g year when Chris Bonar took the title, after many years of coming close. He bowed out of the Clyde circuit on a high, selling his winning Baleteur 97, and moving abroad.

Duncan Chalmers Of Kip Marina said: "The event has traditionally been the testing ground for new race boats, and an opportunity to allow crews to ready their boats and put systems in place, under true race conditions. Our plans for Savills Kip Regatta are to keep this successful formula, ensuring the classes remain ultra-competitive, and growing the event.

"While the IRC and CYCA classes will remain to the fore, there are many opportunities development. We are continuing to expand the CYCA and white sail fleets, and will explore opportunities to introduce future One-Design and sport boat classes in future years."

Savills Kip Regatta 2014 takes place on the 10th & 11th of May, where The Chartroom will again be hosting the "Après Sail" party featuring food, drinks and the ever-popular Raggle Taggle Gypsies.

Related Articles

Admiral's Cup Tom Hicks Thursday Photo Gallery
He is always ready to capture Solent action Tom Hicks is always ready to capture Solent action, and the Admiral's Cup naturally delivered. These shots are from Thursday 24th July 2025. Posted today at 9:27 am
WASZP Games 2025 Day 4 Photo Gallery
A snapshot of the day by Mark Jardine It was a case of grabbing the wind and sunshine while it lasted on Day 4 of the 2025 WASZP Games, and each of the fleets got a bit of racing in before the rain started to fall and the breeze died away. Posted today at 6:35 am
Admiral's Cup Inshore Racing Day 3
Youth, grit and glory define inshore battle The final day of inshore racing at the 2025 Admiral's Cup delivered high drama, high stakes and no shortage of action, especially at race starts. Three intense races pushed crews to the limit and completed the six-race inshore series. Posted today at 4:58 am
WASZP Games 2025 Day 4
The Weymouth weather continued to keep the fleet guessing The Weymouth weather continued to keep the fleet guessing, with the northerly breeze hanging in the early forecast before giving way to a westerly build. Posted today at 4:38 am
Admiral's Cup Paul Wyeth Thursday Photo Gallery
The battle points ahead of the Fastnet race intense The six-race inshore series has now been completed with an unstable northerly, swinging to the west later. The starts were particularly intense as the teams battled for points ahead of the Fastnet, and Paul Wyeth was on hand to capture the action. Posted today at 4:18 am
Catalyst 45: Project Render delivery voyage
Catalyst 45 proved its versatility, and seaworthiness completing a 1,100nm Pacific Ocean voyage. While better known as an America's Cup tender, the Catalyst 45 proved the versatility, and seaworthiness of the design completing a 1,290nm Pacific Ocean delivery voyage to Fiji. Here's the story... Posted on 24 Jul
O'pen Skiff World Championship in Japan
Team USA delivers a solid performance Five US sailors traveled to Nishinomiya, Japan for six days of challenging conditions, hot temperatures, and world class sailing. USA sailor Lucas Doran was in third place in the U17 fleet before the final day of racing. Posted on 24 Jul
Admirals Cup: Day 4 - All hanging on the Fastnet.
The end of the beginning of the 2025 Admirals' Cup. Rán runs aground - claims redress. Today marked the End of the Beginning of the 2025 Admirals' Cup with the conclusion of Inshore racing on what is known as the "Central Solent". The Baltic teams' TP52 Rán hit a sandbank and has claimed redress. Posted on 24 Jul
Less than 48 hours to Rolex Fastnet Race
Battle lines are being drawn up Battle lines are being drawn up for the RORC's centenary Rolex Fastnet Race. As the final day of Admiral's Cup inshore racing took place in the Solent, so several yachts due to take part in Saturday's main event were out training. Posted on 24 Jul
Transpac 2025: Seconds apart after 2,280 miles
For decades, the Transpacific Yacht Club has sought to make racing as fair as possible for all boats The Offshore Racing Rule's (ORR) Forecast Time Correction Factor (F-TCF) rating system, used in this year's Transpac race from Los Angeles to Honolulu, resulted in exceptionally close results. Posted on 24 Jul
C-Tech 2021 America's Cup 728x90 BOTTOMAllen Dynamic 40 FooterSwitch One Design