Lipton Challenge CUP

⚓ 10th ENTRY ANNOUNCEMENT

Witbank Yacht and Aquatic Club has officially entered the 2026 Lipton Challenge, marking a welcome return to South Africa's premier inter-club sailing contest after last competing in 2021.

Four years on, Witbank returns with a fresh team, led by skipper Travis Clack and, perhaps most notably, a crew made up entirely of homegrown Witbank Yacht Club members.

For a club making the long journey from Mpumalanga to compete on the waters of Table Bay, their commitment to fielding a homegrown team is something to be celebrated. It reflects the strength of the club's sailing community and the enduring spirit of the Lipton Challenge.

We look forward to welcoming Witbank Yacht Club back to the starting line this August.

⚓ 9th ENTRY ANNOUNCEMENT

UCT Yacht Club has officially entered the 2026 Lipton Challenge, returning after a strong fifth-place finish in last year's contest.

Skippered by Dale Rae, UCT brings a wealth of experience to the fleet. A multiple Protea sailor and coach, Dale has represented South Africa both on the water and from the coaching boat, while dedicating decades to developing the next generation of sailors.

Despite a retirement and a cold water swim in the second race of the 2025 series, UCT showed impressive pace throughout the event, recording a second-place finish later in the week and consistently placing inside the top ten to secure their fifth overall. With another year of experience under their belt and some new younger crew, the team will be looking to convert that consistency in 2026.

As one of South Africa's leading university sailing club’s, UCT Yacht Club continues to challenge the country's best.

Will we have another University to answer the challenge?

20 days until the entry cutoff.
51 days until registration.

We are loving the paperwork rolling in, but teams are starting to run out of time! Just under 3 weeks until the cutoff and we hope to see a few more familiar as well as new faces on the start line.

www.liptoncup.com

⚓ 8th ENTRY ANNOUNCEMENT

Saldanha Bay Yacht Club has officially entered the 2026 Lipton Challenge, returning after an impressive fourth-place finish in last year's contest.

The team will once again be led by Theo Yon, one of the most experienced sailors in this year's fleet as he prepares for his 17th Lipton Challenge. A former Lipton Challenge winner and multiple-time podium achiever, Theo brings a wealth of experience to the campaign. Joining him at the helm is Olympian Stefano Marcia, who represented South Africa at the 2016 Olympic Games in the ILCA (Laser) class. A runner-up at the 2023 J22 National Championships, this will be Stefano's fourth Lipton Challenge, having raced in both the L26 and Cape31 eras, including a winning campaign aboard Orion in 2021.

With two of the four crew returning from last year's campaign, Saldanha Bay has retained valuable experience while strengthening an already competitive team. After recording a race win, a second place and two third-place finishes on their way to fourth overall in 2025, Theo and Stefano will undoubtedly be aiming to add another Lipton Title to their résumé.

25 days until the entry cutoff.
56 days until registration.

Currently we have 7 published entries, with 3 more scheduled for the coming days.

We know of several clubs that are yet to fill in their official forms, but is there a chance that we might receive an entry or two from any under-the-radar prospective challengers?

Stay tuned for updates!

www.liptoncup.com

⛵📢 7th ENTRY ANNOUNCEMENT
Point Yacht Club has officially entered the 2026 Lipton Challenge, becoming the second club from Durban to join this year's contest for the Lipton Challenge Cup.

Skippered by Richard Weddell and with much of the 2025 crew returning, including the experience of Struan Campbell, Point YC will be looking to build on last year's campaign and convert flashes of brilliance into consistent results across the series.

While the team finished 9th overall in 2025, they showed their potential with a standout race victory in Race 5 and were frequently in the mix throughout the event. With another year of experience behind them and only slight changes to the crew, Point Yacht Club will be eager to climb the leaderboard in 2026.

The Durban challenge continues to grow. How do you think Point Yacht Club will fare when they return to Table Bay this August?

⛵📢 6th ENTRY ANNOUNCEMENT
George Lakes Yacht Club has officially entered the 2026 Lipton Challenge, marking their fourth consecutive appearance in South Africa's premier inter-club sailing contest.

Led by skipper Matthew de Villiers, George Lakes continues to back a young and talented squad, with an average age of just 21. What makes their campaign particularly impressive is the continuity within the team, with many of the same sailors returning year after year to build experience and develop together.

Hailing from the Garden Route, George Lakes Yacht Club may be considered one of the smaller clubs and is primarily known as a dinghy sailing club, yet they continue to embrace the challenge of competing against some of the country's largest and more established. Their commitment to youth and team growth embodies the spirit of the Lipton Challenge.

As they return for a fourth consecutive campaign, George Lakes Yacht Club will once again be looking to prove that determination, teamwork and consistency can compete with the very best.

TEAM UPDATE | BOSKOP YACHT CLUB
Following Boskop Yacht Club's entry announcement into the 2026 Lipton Challenge two weeks ago, the team has confirmed a change to its leadership.

While current South African Sailing President Mike Robinson remains heavily involved in the campaign as Team Manager, the skipper role will be filled by Tammy van Niekerk nee Holden.

Tammy is a three-time Protea Colours recipient whose sailing achievements span national and international competition. Her résumé includes an RS Topper World Championship title, multiple national championships, and most recently victory at the 2025 Dart 18 National Championships.

The appointment reflects Boskop's commitment to developing the next generation of sailing talent, with Robinson backing one of the country's most accomplished young sailors to lead the club's challenge for the Lipton Challenge Cup.

We look forward to seeing Tammy back on the water and the Boskop team take to the waters of Table Bay this August.

⛵📢 5th ENTRY ANNOUNCEMENT

Royal Natal Yacht Club has officially entered the 2026 Lipton Challenge and returns to Table Bay with a crew that has already demonstrated its ability to challenge in taking the Cup home.

The team returns unchanged from the 2025 Lipton Challenge, where they secured an impressive third-place finish overall. Since then, the crew has continued to build momentum, claiming third place at the Far East Championships in China earlier this year.

Leading the campaign again is skipper Mike Farrington, President of the International J22 Class Association and a sailor with more than three decades of J22 racing experience, including ten World Championship appearances and multiple podium finishes.

Joining him is again two-time J22 World Championship silver medallist Dre Giovannini, sail designer and offshore racing specialist Matthew Trautman, and rising young talent Hayden Miller, at just 15 years old.

With an experienced crew, proven teamwork, and strong international form, Royal Natal Yacht Club will undoubtedly be one of the teams to watch when the 2026 Lipton Challenge gets underway.

⛵📢 4th ENTRY ANNOUNCEMENT

The Royal Cape Yacht Club Sailing Academy has officially entered the 2026 Lipton Challenge, marking a welcome return to South Africa's premier sailing contest.

This is the second year that the Lipton Trustees have opened the competition to recognised sailing academies, creating an important pathway for emerging talent to compete alongside some of the country's most established yacht clubs. We are delighted to see the Royal Cape Yacht Club Sailing Academy back on the start line.

Led once again by skipper Sibusiso Sizatu, the Academy team impressed during their debut campaign in 2025, recording a third-place finish and two fourth-place finishes across the ten-race series. Having gained valuable experience and proven they can compete at the front of the fleet, they will undoubtedly be looking to improve on last year's overall result.

Will any more Academy’s or Sailing Schools join the Challenge?

RCYC Sailing Academy