Prestigious sailing event heads to Durban
The 65th Lipton Challenge Cup takes place from 6 to 13 July.
THE most prestigious sailing event, the 65th Lipton Challenge Cup, takes place offshore of Durban from 6 to 13 July, hosted by Point Yacht Club.
The defending champions, Royal Cape Yacht Club, offered the Durban yacht club hosting rights of this esteemed event that has all the yacht clubs in the country entering their top teams to compete on an L26 yacht. Returning to defend the 2013 title are four from the original crew, with youngster Jethro Brophy-Tintinger, who has been rising through the ranks replacing former Olympic sailor, Alec Lanham-Love. They will be sailing on the recently overhauled yacht, Element.
Leading the team is helmsman and key decision maker, Richard Weddell. He is joined by Struan Campbell, Byron Watt and Rudy McNeill all from the winning team and up-and-coming school boy, Brophy-Tintinger.
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Durban North’s McNeill, a former highly international competitive Laser sailor, most recently travelled to Canada to compete in the Laser world champs, and will be competing in his third Lipton Challenge. Keen ocean sportsman, Byron Watt has competed in five Lipton Challenges and is keen to get his sixth under his belt. The ocean adventurer has sailed in five Vasco da Gama races and has one Cape2Rio under his belt and is eyeing out the 2020 epic Atlantic crossing.
Boat positions are Weddell steering the yacht with Campbell working the sharp end of the yacht as Foredeck. McNeill has the responsibility of trimming the kite on the downwind legs, while Watt is trimming the sails on the upwinds. Brophy-Tintinger plays the important role of piano keys and overall cockpit administrator.
The Point Yacht Club team will take on the crème-de-la-crème of sailors from around South Africa in this exciting six day offshore regatta. Race officer, Jimmy Melville, will set a variety of courses as per the Lipton deed, with the one class design needing to compete 12 nautical miles per race.
Defending champions, Royal Cape Yacht Club have had their name engraved 15 times on the historic trophy, followed by Zeekoevlei Yacht Club on 11 titles and then PYC with 10 wins since this historic sailing event started in 1911.
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