Lipton Cup Regatta 2015 overall

by Bernie Kaaks on 16 Nov 2015 Hobson’s Bay skipper Bruce McCraken won his second Lipton Cup in succession this weekend after winning all four races on IRC in his First 45, Ikon. Robert Date also sailed a fine series in the TP52 Scarlet Runner to record line honours in every race and finished second overall in Division A with two seconds and two thirds on IRC corrected time. Rod Warren’s Joust, a J111, finished third in the IRC fleet.

Joust won the AMS handicap for Division A ahead of Scarlet Runner and Ikon, while the PHS handicap saw Scarlet Runner ahead of Joust and Antony Walton’s Hartbreaker.

Overnight Division B’s IRC leader was Langford Spencer’s Moneypenny by a solitary point, but Andrew Slagmolen’s Northshore 36 The Bookmaker scored a second in the final long race, finishing two points clear of Moneypenny to claim the title. AMS handicap reversed that result with Moneypenny finishing three points clear of The Bookmaker and Richard Gates’ Archambault 35 Absolut third. PHS results were dominated by James Heywood’s Adams 10 Serious Yahoo.

The Adams 10 Paragon, sailed by John Dusting, won Division C’s AMS trophy ahead of Paul Larcher’s S80, Gravitas. On PHS handicap, Tim Feore’s Diamond, Osprey beat Troy Croft’s sportsboat Kaos by a solitary point, with another Diamond, Cameron Mead’s Mystery, in third place.

In Division E, for keelboats with spinnakers, Paul Lindemann’s Beneteau 49 Biddy Hu II won both races for a comfortable win ahead of Gary Prestedge’s Archambault 40, One for the Road. Prestedge enjoyed the encounter however, beating his larger rival over the line in both races and winning the PHS trophy for the division.

The Lipton Cup Regatta continues to attract good numbers of entries, with 73 dinghies and 90 keelboats taking part. The regatta is also a great example of the success of cooperative organisation. Williamstown Sailing Club and Port Melbourne Yacht Club providing their resources and assisting the Royal Yacht Club of Victoria in the organisation.

This year’s regatta also marked the retirement of one of the Royals’ staunchest volunteers. Regatta chairman for the past ten years, John Burgess, announced his intention to step down from the role and can look back at a decade of very popular and well organised yachting events in Victoria.