Next week in Barcelona Belfast Lough's Royal Ulster Yacht Club will once again celebrate its links with Sir Thomas Lipton and the America's Cup. Sir Thomas Lipton famously challenged for the America's Cup in his five yachts, each named Shamrock (1-5), under the burgee of Royal Ulster YC between 1899 and 1930.
The Sir Thomas Lipton Memorial Cup was presented by the Club for the first time in 1970 to yacht Gretel II entered through Royal Perth Yacht Club by Honorary Secretary Karl Smyth, at the Ida Lewis Yacht Club, Newport, Rhode Island. Since then, the yachts competing for the America's Cup and with it the Louis Vuitton Cup, the series to decide the challenger, have become almost unrecognisable from sleek 12 metre yachts to the high speed, technologically advanced, yachts we now see.
INEOS Britannia and Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli in competition at the Louis Vuitton Series Photo: Ian Roman
On 8th October, Royal Ulster YC, together with the Ida Lewis YC will host a reception at the Real Club Naútico de Barcelona to present the Lipton Trophy to whichever of the two teams win the Louis Vuitton Series. The Cup will be presented by RUYC Rear Commodore Jim Coffey to either INEOS Britannia entered through the Royal Yacht Squadron, or Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli entered through the Circolo della Vela Sicilia. The Ida Lewis YC will be presenting their Pell Cup, named after the late Herbert Claiborne Pell Jr. a United States politician from New York who had lived in Newport, Rhode Island.
The reception at RCNB will be attended by most of the Commodores of the challenging clubs along with dignitaries from the world of elite sailing.
Another Northern Ireland connection with this event is RUYC member Bill O'Hara OBE, who will umpire the J Class event. Bill is one of the few officials who is a World Sailing Judge, Umpire, and Race Officer internationally.
RUYC member Bill O'Hara OBE, will umpire the J Class event in Barcelona. Bill is one of the few officials who is a World Sailing Judge, Umpire, and Race Officer internationally
