Please select your home edition
Edition
North Sails Loft 57 Podcast

Kip Regatta celebrates 25 years of sailing

by Marc Turner 11 May 2014 13:13 PDT 10-11 May 2014

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

Red Bull Sailing Academy Opens
A new hub for current and future superstars to reach the top of their sport Marina Monfalcone, North Italy, made waves yesterday, as sports superstars gathered to open the Red Bull Sailing Academy, marking the beginning of a new era in the sport. Posted today at 12:53 pm
Gran Canaria Gloria Windsurf World Cup Day 1
Philip Köster edges out Marcilio Browne in one of the closest finals ever Philip Köster edges out Marcilio Browne in one of the closest finals ever as Pozo delivers 50 knot winds and waves. Posted today at 11:42 am
America's Cup: French give the Brits the "Hurry-up
Frustration builds between Cup factions over lack of progress with Protocol. Last weekend's missive from the French America's Cup challenge team is further evidence over the building frustration with progress towards the 2027 America's Cup in Naples. Posted today at 11:12 am
The oldest video footage of Moth sailing
A look back into our video archive, to when the name of this class first settled down We delve into our video archive to find the oldest possible videos that show Moth racing. Are these International Moths, British Moths... or was the name still Olive, Inverloch 11ft, National Moth or Brent One-Design?! Posted today at 11:00 am
GKSS Match Cup & Nordea Women's Trophy overall
It is the first time the Match Cup Sweden title has been won by a Danish Skipper Denmark's Jeppe Borch/ Team Borch Match Race, and France's Pauline Courtois/ Match in Pink by Normandy crowned the new champions of Marstrand in a day of fierce weather for the final of 2025 GKSS Match Cup Sweden and Nordea Women's Trophy in Marstrand. Posted today at 7:14 am
Goodchild takes his first win in the IMOCA Class
After a dominant performance in the Course des Caps The British skipper Sam Goodchild celebrated his first victory in the IMOCA Class yesterday after crossing the finish line of the Course des Caps - Boulogne-sur-Mer - Banque Populaire du Nord, a 1,800-nautical mile sprint around Britain and Ireland. Posted today at 6:47 am
Transpac 2025 final starters depart LA
The largest boats with the longest waterlines already burning up the miles to Hawaii The 20 biggest, fastest boats racing in the 2025 Transpac began their offshore sprint from Los Angeles, California, to Honolulu, Hawaii, on Saturday. Posted today at 1:05 am
Final countdown to the AEGEAN 600
60 teams assembled at Olympic Marine for Sunday's start of the AEGEAN 600 On Saturday, the 60 teams assembled at Olympic Marine for Sunday's start of the AEGEAN 600 are using their final pre-race day to make last checks on their rigging, sails, and electronic systems, provision for the days they expect to be at sea. Posted on 5 Jul
29er Europeans at Lake Garda day 3
The fleet is now ready for the finals at Fraglia Vela Riva The 29er European Championship 2025 in Riva del Garda is already making history. With 251 teams from 29 nations, this year's edition has gathered one of the largest and most competitive fleets in class history. Posted on 5 Jul
Rolex TP52 Worlds in Cascais day 4
All on the line Sunday as American Magic Quantum Racing seek to close out eighth world title After three spectacular races today on Cascais, Portugal's showcase high winds arena, Doug DeVos' seven times world title winners American Magic Quantum Racing lead into the final day of the 2025 Rolex TP52 Worlds with a hard earned five points buffer. Posted on 5 Jul
Armstrong 728x90 - HA Foil Range - BOTTOMRooster 2025Selden 2020 - FOOTER