Cape Town - The Lipton Cup challenge concluded this weekend at Club Mykonos Resort in Langebaan after 10 competitive sailing races that saw the Royal Natal Yacht Club (RNYC) emerge victorious for the 10th time in the race’s history.
The final race proved to be a nail-biter with positions changing regularly and only a single point separating the winning RNYC from the defending champions, Witbank Yacht and Aquatic Club (WYAC) that came second and the Royal Cape Yacht Club (RCYC) that came third, with Aeolians Club in fourth place and Zeekoe Vlei Yacht Club finishing fifth.
RCYC was in the lead until the final 8th leg of the race, where they took their chance, backed their tactician Pete Shaw to the hilt and went in search on the left course, in the same area that, two legs earlier, the Aeolians Club had sought.
“They looked good at times, as did the balance of the fleet, but as they all approached the finish line it was Aeolians Club that had the lead - and this was critical in determining the overall winner,” RCYC said.
RCYC skipper Hylton Hale said that despite leading the previous races the Aeolians Club crossed the finish line first, winning the final race of the last event, followed by RNYC, WYAC, Zeekoe Vlei Yacht Club and then RCYC.
RNYC Commodore Leo Kroonne said they were extremely impressed and proud of their team for competing and winning such a tough competition. RNYC skipper Davey James will have his name engraved on the trophy for the very first time as a winning skipper.
“The event was very tight. We were winning the event for nine races and we got to the final day with a point lead over the other two teams (WYAC and RNYC),” said Hale. “All we had to do was win the last race and we would have claimed the Lipton Cup title. That’s sport, though, it has its ups and downs.”
Hale congratulated RNYC on its win and said the RCYC team was eager to train and compete again next year.
Cape Argus