Welcome to the 2009 Sir Thomas Lipton Cup Regatta

The 2008 San Diego Sir Thomas Lipton Cup regatta saw some of the most exciting racing we’ve seen in recent memory for both racers and spectators alike.  In a photo finish, Team Southwestern won the Cup by a nose including the right to defend in 2009.  Southwestern Yacht Club is both pleased and proud to host the event this year and encourage  all eligible yacht clubs to participate.  

The San Diego Sir Thomas Lipton Cup is steeped in rich tradition. 

The San Diego Sir Thomas Lipton Challenge Cup was created in 1903 and deeded to San Diego Yacht Club in 1913. It has been competed for every year since except for the war years and has become “The Holy Grail” of West Coast Yachting. For further history of the Sir Thomas Lipton Cup, please click here.

After a long and arduous struggle beginning in 1969, Southwestern Yacht Club finally prevailed in 2003 by winning it, using the yacht “J-OK”, with a temporary change of name to “Nemesis”, skippered by Geoff Longenecker and a Blue Ribbon Crew.

In 2008, Southwestern Yacht Club again won the trophy with the yacht “J-OK”, this time skippered by Ken Manzoni and another Blue Ribbon Crew. That same yacht and team will be defending the trophy on the Coronado Roads off San Diego May 16th and 17th 2009.

Please accept our invitation to join us in all the festivities surrounding the event here at “the friendly club”; and to compete for the most prestigious Cup on the West Coast. 

The invitation to participate, Notice of Race and Entry form can be found at SWYC 2009 Lipton Cup Challenge.

Good luck to all participants,
Southwestern Yacht Club