Lipton Cup Host Richmond Yacht Club Wins Regatta
The Lipton Cup has been raced on S.F. Bay for over 100 years, with the Pacific Inter-Club Yacht Association (PICYA) having shepherded it for many decades. It started with big boats and moved to somewhat smaller boats — an under-30-ft class; a 30–40-ft class; and an over-40-ft class; and later, one-design. Throughout its first century, the rating rules evolved from CCA to IOR to PHRF. In 2017, a group of clubs got together to propose a revitalization of the event. This resulted in the one-design racers using the St. Francis Yacht Club’s matched fleet of J/22s.
Since inception of the J/22 era of Lipton Cup races, the following are the host and winning clubs:
Year Host Winning Club
2018 RYC (Richmond) InvYC (Inverness)
2019 RYC RYC
2020 Not held due to the pandemic
2021 SBYC/EYC (South Beach/Encinal) SFYC (San Francisco)
2022 CYC (Corinthian) RYC
2023 SFYC StFYC
2024 EYC SFYC
2025 RYC RYC
From 2018 to 2024 the race included a destination race on Friday from the StFYC to the host club’s venue, and a return destination race to StFYC Sunday afternoon. The distance races were rough on the boats and crew. (See this story from the 2019 Lipton Cup for an example.)
To avoid the higher winds and rough waters of the Central Bay (and damage to boats and crew!), this year’s event took place out of RYC for all three days. It was a wise choice, as, no surprise, the winds and waves in the Slot were high. PRO Tim Knowles selected the Keller Cove venue off Richmond; the boats held together and the crews were happy.
Ten clubs entered this year’s regatta: Berkeley, Corinthian, Encinal, Inverness, Richmond, San Francisco, Sequoia, South Beach, St. Francis, and Tahoe.
Friday had three races, with women over 25 skippering the boats for two course races and one distance race. Winners for Friday’s races were vying for the Admiral’s Cup, and for second place, the Valhalla Cup.
Saturday included seven stamina-testing course races for skippers over 25, with this day’s results counting double. Saturday’s racing was conducted under Umpired Fleet Racing rules, with four local umpires making the on-the-water calls. First place won the Sir Thomas Lipton Challenge Trophy, while second was awarded the Edward E. Peck Cup. Third place got free visits to the chiropractor.
Sunday had two course races and one distance race scheduled for skippers over 60. One course race was completed, and one distance race, but the second course race was canceled due to lack of wind. This day’s racing was for the Larry Knight Trophy (first place), and second place for the Treasurers Cup.
The overall winner received the Sir Thomas Lipton Perpetual Trophy and bragging rights for the Bay. The awards will be presented at the PICYA annual trophy presentation at Point San Pablo Yacht Club on July 7.
The host, Richmond Yacht Club, set aside courtesy by winning all three days of the event, with the StFYC right behind them with three second-place finishes. RYC won Sunday’s racing in a tiebreaker. The winning RYC skippers for Friday, Saturday and Sunday were Melinda Erkelens, Lucy Wilmot and Buzz Blackett.
PRO Tim Knowles oversaw a group of 22 race committee volunteers each day. More RYC volunteers were on land, primarily for the Saturday evening festivities.
Volunteers from the clubs and from the host club participated in the group tows of the fleet to RYC on Thursday morning, and back to StFYC on Monday morning.
The PICYA and 10 clubs again thank StFYC for providing their matched J/22 fleet for this event and including a “bosun” to take care of the fleet on the water. It’ll be another year before clubs again get a shot at earning the Lipton Cup and bragging rights for the Bay.