The Lipton Challenge Cup was donated in 1909 to the Table Bay Yacht Club, which subsequently became the Royal Cape Yacht Club, by Sir Thomas Lipton, world-famous entrepreneur, and five-time challenger for the America’s Cup.

It is an annual inter-club contest – one boat per club – to be held off-shore during the months of July and August.  At least the three “traditional courses” in the Deed – a windward-leeward or leeward-windward, an equilateral triangle, and a quadrilateral – of no less than 12 nautical miles each must be completed for the contest to stand. The winning club defends the Cup the following year on its home waters or nominated port in the case of an inland club.

The long history of the Lipton Challenge in many ways reflects the history of competitive sailing in South Africa, and today the Cup is widely seen as the domestic trophy most SA sailors, young and old, would most like to win.

This year the Lipton Cup challenge ran for 5 days 12 July 2023– 16 July 2023 setting sails on the Durban shores. In the race, there was Sail Africa’s team represented the Buffalo Yacht Club, Point Yacht Club, Seal Point Yacht Club, Stillbaai Yacht Club, George Lakes Yacht Club, and Nitro from the Royal Natal Yacht Club. These were the clubs in the forefront of the cup.

Despite the tormenting weather conditions each of the sailing teams persevered and showed great team spirit while they rode the waves. The results of the competition in the first place are the Nitro, following the PhattAss, and in third place is the MSC Dona Mia. The MSC Donna Mia was well represented in the J33 with co-skipper Richard Weddell and Alex Lanham.

EThekwini Maritime Cluster would like to congratulate all the participants of the race for their endurance and unwavering fighting spirit. Your participation in the Lipton regatta was well recognized and had a great contribution to the overall success of the regatta.