Please select your home edition
Edition
Maritimo M75

2019 Sir Thomas Lipton Challenge Cup at San Diego Yacht Club - Overall

by Casey Allocco 27 Oct 2019 22:38 PDT 25-27 October 2019
2019 Sir Thomas Lipton Challenge Cup © Mark Albertazzi

The coveted Sir Thomas Lipton Challenge Cup trophy is leaving San Diego Yacht Club and heading north to the home of this year's winners: Newport Harbor Yacht Club! After three days of intense, close racing, skipper Justin Law and his seasoned crew earned their bragging rights by winning four of eleven races and staying in the top half of the fleet for almost every other race this weekend.

"It was super stressful. We just really played ball that last race. We had to stay five boats within Chicago and the team just did enough. Winning the first race made the tension go away and it was a great way to start the day. It set us up for a successful final two races," commented Law.

The overall results of the 2019 Lipton Cup show Newport Harbor Yacht Club finishing first overall with 40 points. Close behind is Chicago Yacht Club in second with 43 points and San Diego Yacht Club in third with 47 points.

During the entirety of the Lipton Cup and down to the last race, there were multiple competitors in the running for first place. Ending day two, three teams were tied for third place, making today's racing extra crucial. Newport Harbor went into the third and final day of the regatta only one point behind Chicago Yacht Club and made sure to battle their way past them to the top. Chicago, however, still held their own in the top of the fleet today, seeing good competition from teams like San Diego Yacht Club, Coronado Yacht Club (5th) and San Francisco Yacht Club (8th).

SFYC skipper Tim Russell commented on their great sailing today. "If you look at the scores we had gradually gotten better and we just started to really gel. I actually hate that it's over because I'm ready to go again!" he said.

Law has been sailing with this crew for quite some time... a factor that he credits toward their success. Recently, the team has been competing in yacht club keelboat circuit team racing and sailed in the Morgan Cup and the Baldwin Cup. "Whether it's team racing, club circuit, or offshore big boat, we've been doing this with the same team for a couple of years. This is the first time I'm driving... but it's kind of the OG squad," he said. Law has crewed at the Lipton Cup the past two years for their usual skipper Jon Pinckney, who came in fifth in 2018. Bill Menninger, a frequenter to SDYC's Lipton Cup and International Masters Regatta, was also on NHYC's crew.

After crossing through the finish line, team NHYC was presented with a winning bottle of champagne by Lipton Cup Chair Tim Fuller as they headed back to the San Diego Yacht Club. All teams joined together on the Main Deck for the awards ceremony officially concluding the 2019 Sir Thomas Lipton Challenge Cup. Justin and the rest of team NHYC might be best found celebrating down the street at the Bali Hai where they'll enjoy one of their traditional mai tais and thank the Buddha for sending them the good karma that they asked for.

SDYC Commodore Jerelyn Biehl, although saddened by not keeping the Cup on home turf, was happy to have another great regatta at the Club. "Newport Harbor sailed a great regatta and while, as Commodore, I wish it was staying at SDYC, it's always good to have other teams win to keep everyone coming back! SDYC ended on a high note by winning the last race and finishing in the top three."

"I know it's a big trophy and it's a huge deal for us to win the Lipton Cup. The biggest thing is how many people are reaching out and saying congratulations. It's really cool," finished Law.

Full results available here.

Related Articles

Awesome sailing in California Offshore Race Week
J/Teams participated in all three events with some with amazing results The annual start of the offshore racing circuit in California has been the California Offshore Race Week. Posted on 29 Jun
Etchells North American Championship overall
Luke Lawrence and team win at San Diego Yacht Club The competitors for the Etchells North American Championship in San Diego left the dock Sunday morning for the final two races of the regatta with a lot of work still in front of them to determine the winner. Posted on 19 May
Etchells North American Championship day 2
Three more races held on Saturday The 2025 Etchells North American Championship continued with 3 more races on Saturday. Conditions were more favorable for racing today with wind in the 8 - 12 kt range. Posted on 18 May
Etchells North American Championship day 1
A strong day for Masfen, Cooke and Wilkinson give the NZL team top position Day one of the Etchells North American Championship started off under an AP flag with mostly cloudy skies. After an almost 90 minute delay, Race 1 got under way at 12:55 with a course bearing of 235 with 1.2 nm legs. Posted on 17 May
2025 Etchells North American Championship Preview
Racing set to Kick Off Friday May 16th in San Diego San Diego Yacht Club welcomes 39 teams competing in the 2025 Etchells North American Championships - a 3-day regatta May 16-18. Posted on 15 May
2025 Yachting Cup at San Diego YC overall
Awarding 7 class winners along with the overall award to J/24 Wharf Rat Day 2 of SDYC's Yachting Cup started with a bit of rain and overcast coastal skies. The race management team was concerned about the forecast conditions - specifically the sea state, which built as a result of an overnight offshore front. Posted on 5 May
2025 Yachting Cup at San Diego YC Day 1
Competitive racing with light conditions for the seven classes After all the concern about inclement weather and alternate plans... Day 1 of San Diego Yacht Club's Yachting Cup defied the forecasts. Posted on 4 May
SDYC hosts the 2025 Yachting Cup this weekend
Featuring one design and handicap classes racing Each year as the calendar flips to May, San Diego Yacht Club hosts the annual Yachting Cup regatta, featuring one design and handicap classes racing. Posted on 2 May
Jesberg Wins Etchells Orca Bowl
Busch/Madden Win Etchells West Coast Spring Series The Orca Bowl wrapped up the 2025 Etchells West Coast Spring Series on April 26-27 with a 5-race regatta sailed by 33 teams on the ocean course off of Point Loma in San Diego, CA. Posted on 29 Apr
2025 Etchells Midwinters West in San Diego
Chris Busch wins tight battle after a dynamic three days of racing The 2025 Etchells Midwinters West, hosted by the San Diego Yacht Club and sailed on the Coronado Roads, delivered a dynamic three days of racing, concluding the third leg of the West Coast Spring Series with a hard-fought victory by Chris Busch Posted on 1 Apr
North Sails Loft 57 PodcastBarton Marine Pipe GlandsSwitch One Design