The Lipton Challenge Cup
HISTORY OF THE LIPTON CHALLENGE CUP
In 1909, Sir Thomas Lipton presented the magnificent silver-gilt Lipton Cup to the Table Bay Yacht Club (which became the Royal Cape Yacht Club).
The conditions were: “That any recognised yacht club that had headquarters between Walvis Bay and Beira could compete for the cup with one representative yacht which was to be not more than eight meters and not less than six according to international measurement.”
The fifties saw renewed activity in offshore racing. A new class had been introduced to South Africa from Scandinavia – the Thirty Square Meter. The trustees of the Cup were approached and it was agreed that the deed of gift should be changed and the competition was opened for the contest to be raced over five rounds.
By 1982 , quarter ton IOR racing had become increasingly popular and with the introduction of the Lavranos designed “Sweet Pea” it was again agreed that the challenge be opened up to a new class and the deed of gift amended.
The L26 class was introduced for the 1984 Challenge as a class that offered a potential long-term future for the Lipton Cup. The increasing country-wide interest in the event proved that it was the right decision, and for the first time in the history of the event, the Cup was won by the inland Transvaal Yacht Club with E. Sternagel at the helm of “Galactica”.
The Lipton Cup had once again become a premier event on South Africa’s yachting calendar. By 1988 a record 26 clubs were competing with skippers and crews that represented the cream of the country’s yachtsmen and women. Over 85 L26 class boats have been built since the introduction of the Angelo Lavranos design.
In 2000 the new millennium heralded a new era with a whole group of new sailors participating in the event. Many of these youngsters were the fruits of various ‘Development Sailing’ initiatives, and their faces promised to become ever more familiar as they moved forward to achieve their various goals in their chosen sport, not the least of which would be the Lipton Cup Challenge of future years.
With the 2001 event returning to Cape Town for the first time since 1996 everyone looked forward to some serious ‘needle’ racing at the venue which had provided so many great Lipton events in the past. And the punters were not disappointed. The “old guard” once again provided the thrills and spills of the week with Rick Nankin, Greg Davis and Ian Ainslee literally taking the Regatta right down to the wire… but it was Rick Nankin (sans Chris King this time around) who won by 1 point ahead of the other two who both finished on 20 points, making it his 5th win in this even since 1988.
TYC Challengers through the Years
1984 Galatica (Winner Overall)
Ewald Sternagel (Skipper)
Peter Hishen (Tactician)
Charlie Wallendorf (Winch man / Sail Trimmer)
Daryl York ( Mid-ships / Spinnaker)
Ronnie Gurnell ( Foredeck)
Bert Winkler ( Manager)
1985 Galactica (Defender)
Durban
Ewald Sternagel (Skipper)
Peter Hishen (Tactician)
Charlie Wallendorf (Winch man / Sail Trimmer)
Daryl York ( Mid-ships / Spinnaker)
Ronnie Gurnell ( Foredeck)
Bert Winkler ( Manager)
2002 Rote Hexe
Cape town ( Overall 5th)
Ewald Sternagel
Tony Money
Graham Baker
Ronnie Gurnell
(Reinhold Antweiler – Rote Hexe’s owner)
2003 Rote Hexe (Overall 5th)
Ewald Sternagel
Tony Money
Graham Baker
Buddy Phillips
Ronnie Gurnell
2004
Durban
Ewald Sternagel (Helmsman)
Tony Money (Midships trimmer)
Graham Baker (Midships Tactician)
Buddy Phillips (Midships Backup)
Ronnie Gurnell (Foredeck)
Dave Scorey (Team Manager)
2005
Ewald Sternagel
Randolph Verheij
Tony Money
Steve Thyse
Wenner Hautmann
Ron Gurnell (Team Manager)
2006
Graham Baker
Tony Money
Tony Strutt
Werner Hautmann
Ron Gurnell (Team Manager)
2007 –
David Rae
Peter Funke
Thomas Funke
Bert Knopjies
Robert von Gruenewaldt
Ron Gurnell (Team Manger)
2008
Ewald Sternagel
Randolph Verheij
Steve Thysse
Steve Kruger
Ronnie Gurnell
2009
Ewald Sternagel
Randolph Verheij
Ronnie Gurnell
Steven Kruger
Gregory Plunkett
2010
Ewald Sternagel
Graham Baker
Ronnie Gurnell
(rest of crew I couldn’t find any record)
2011 Rote Hexe
Mossel Bay (Position 3rd)
Ewald Sternagel
Randolph Verheij
Dave Martinson
Steven Kruger
2012
Randolph Verheij (skipper)
Ronnie Gurnell
Dave Martinson
Greg Outram
Donovan Kruger
2013
Ronnie Gurnell
Graham Baker
Greg Outram
Shaun Gurnell
Barry Gurnell
Ricci Scalco