Lipton Cup

The Lipton Cup is New Zealand’s oldest yachting trophy competed for by the same class. This race is sailed in 22ft L-Class yachts which are commonly referred to as Mullet Boats. Some of the race fleet are now over 100 years old and are still very competitive.

The trophy, made by the same silversmith who made the America’s Cup, was donated by Sir Thomas Lipton who raced the America’s Cup 5 times, but never won.

The 100th race for the Lipton Cup was sailed on the 1st May 2021 - see the full report and selection of photos here.

The 104th race for the Lipton Cup again Sponsored by Victoria Park New World was raced on March 22, 2025 and the report follows.

LIPTON CUP 105 - Scheduled date - 14 March 2026

For the record of the most races sailed by the same class for the same trophy, on the World sailing Calendar we share notoriety with the Santa Barbara Yacht Club in California. They sailed their 102nd Lipton Cup race in the same class, the Star Class, in August 2025. The hulls designed in 1910, are virtually the same, 23ft hard chine with a bulb keel but the rigs have morphed from a large low-aspect-ratio-gunter mainsail and jib to a short Bermuda rig during the 1920’s to the current tall Bermuda sail plan adopted in the 1930’s. The Star Class became an Olympic class in 1932 and remained so through to 2012. The hulls have been fibreglass since 1965. It was in the Star Class that NZers Rod Davis & Don Cowie, won a Silver Medal at Barcelona in 1992.

Sailing for our trophy, Valeria has been around since the Star class was first designed and apart from time out to go fishing on the Manukau Valeria, the first winner, is a probable starter in the 105th race in March 2026. Komuri has already sailed in over 50 Lipton Cup Races. That is surely a unique record for any boat in any race.

March 14 & 15, 2026 sees the Wooden Boat festival in Downtown Auckland The Mullet Boat Race for the Lipton Cup will be sailed on Saturday!!

ALL MULLET BOAT SAILORS Past & Present are invited to a Reunion.

Put these dates on your calendar Now! further information to follow shortly.

105^th LIPTON CUP INTERCLUB CHALLENGE RACE.

DATE: 14 March, 2026. Organising Authority: Ponsonby Cruising Club.

Another year on and another great celebration. Although the fleet was small the enthusiastic support of the many Mullet Boat Sailors past and present again joined us at the Pons’ for another historic reunion unparallelled world-wide. The same boats sailing similar, rules and courses for the Interclub Trophy presented to the Ponsonby Cruising Club by Sir Thomas Lipton in 1920.

The first winner of that magnificent trophy sailing for the Victoria Cruising Club was L8 Valeria launched in 1913. Valeria finished 2^nd on line in Race 105.

Setting the course happens on the morning with several basic rules – an on the wind start, a windward first beat a balance of on the wind and eased sheets and a length of up to 20 miles. Courses may be shortened.

On Tuesday prior, storms were predicted after several weeks of no wind. Friday eased, Saturday was gusting up to 40 knots. Mullet Boat Lipton Cup Races in 104 years have never been cancelled because of the weather conditions! Reef the main and sail on! No - We were not cancelling or delaying. The event coincided with the Wooden Boat Show in Auckland so a rounding mark was laid off Wynward Wharf. It was a very fresh sou’wester, the tide was minimal but making and the seas were reasonably calm. The start was laid in Shoal Bay with a beat to the laid mark by the Westhaven Sea wall.

Of the original possibles, five made the start area. Of the five L52 RangiManu & the newly restored L45 Vamoose withdrew prior to the start gun. (Not starting this year – (Komuri & Tere Kanae were ashore awaiting some much needed TLC.)

On the start L8 Valeria & L60 Martanza had a good starboard start, L56 Scullet tacked on to port to clear the start buoy, fouled Martanza – 1^st Penalty - cleared! From Top mark to Wynyard – eased sheets but no extras, a run to Stanley – no extras carried, another penalty cleared by Scullet for touching Wynyard Buoy, a hard beat back up to Wynyard and eased sheets to Torpedo Buoy. Martana carried a small leader part of the way. Valeria led round Torpedo but Scullet's lesser main on the beat to Resolution made the difference. From there Scullet led to Stanley, Wynyard and the finish at Barwell off the PCC Clubhouse. A short course of about 14 miles accompanied by three launches, reefs were put in and out, but a well sailed race. To cancel or shorten once started was a NO.

A special thanks goes to the Mullet Boat Committee who organised the 105^th LIPTON CUP, especially Tim and Takka, & Tania, to Dave and his Launch the AMAZON, Diane, Lindsay & John who provided the BBQ breakfast…. AND ALL THE SPONSORS!! Thank you all. Janet W.

Lipton Cup Interclub Challenge Rules:

Organising Authority: Ponsonby Cruising Club Inc.

The Cup shall be known as the LIPTON INTERCLUB CHALLENGE CUP. In all matters the Ponsonby Cruising Club, Inc. (PCC) shall be the controlling body.
The race for the Cup shall be governed by the Racing Rules of Sailing and the PCC’s General Sailing Instructions, the Mullet Boat Safety Requirements and Notice of Race as published in the PCC Yearbook. Any amendments to the Notice of Race and Special Sailing Instructions shall apply.
The Cup shall be competed for annually by bona fide boats of the 22 ft Mullet Boat Class, holding a current measurer’s certificate and nominated by a YNZ and/or AYBA affiliated boating club.
The Cup shall be held at the Ponsonby Cruising Club for the club which will have nominated the winning boat, for the year from the day on which the cup was presented.
The crew of yachts entered in the LIPTON INTERCLUB CHALLENGE race shall consist of 6 persons.
L Class Mullet boats shall not be permitted individual sponsorship.
A Safety Check of all boats will be made prior to leaving the Marina.
The race will be started on the wind.
The course length will be approximately 20 miles depending on the conditions on the day.
The Target time is 4 hours, the time limit for the first boat to finish is 5 hours after the start time.
The first Mullet boat to finish must report to the Club on completion of the race for inspection and the weighing of ballast.

Ponsonby Cruising Club Inc.

Mullet Boat Safety Requirements

NOTE: As Mullet Boats do not comply in all areas of Cat. 4 & 5 of the YNZ Safety Regulations they must at all times comply with these safety requirements as endorsed by Yachting New Zealand, July 2020.

All sailors shall observe the Racing Rules of Sailing, Part 1: FUNDAMENTAL RULES 1. Safety 1.1. Helping those in danger. Redress may be granted on application: RRS 62.1 (b).

Re Life Jacket and Buoyancy Aids:

Approved & certified PFDs shall be carried for each crew member at all times in accordance with the Safety Regulations of Sailing 2017-2020, Appendix SR 4.

a) A PFD shall be worn at all times by a crew member if the skipper so directs.
b) Life Jackets or Buoyancy aids shall be worn by all crew members while Code flag “Y” is flown from the Tower, the Committee Boat or a patrol boat.

DAYTIME HARBOUR RACES:

The following are to be carried at all times:

A. An approved PFD for each crew member (6) as above.
B. A Bilge Pump in accordance with the Safety Regs Part II, 13.13 & 13.14 (b)
C. At least 2 buckets complete with lanyards.
D. A Horseshoe lifebuoy with drogue as stated in the Safety Regs. Part II 17.13. It must be Orange or Yellow with reflective tape, display the name & have a whistle attached.
E. An anchor weighing not less than 10kg with a metal chain of minimum size and length of 8mm and 6.706m (22ft) plus 40m of warp of minimum size 10mm.
F. A First Aid Kit – waterproof. Refer SR APPENDIX 1: Minimum Inshore Kit
G. Knife.

CRUISING AND NIGHT RACES:

In addition to the items required to be carried for Daytime Harbour Races the following items shall be carried at all times during cruising and night races in the harbour:

A. One Fire extinguisher that is tested & tagged.
B. Minimum of eight litres of water.
C. Navigation Lights – as required by the Collision Prevention Rules & in accordance with the Safety Regs. Part II, 19.07.
D. Compass
E. Torches – two.
F. Chart No 532 or equivalent for course destination.
G. Horseshoe lifebuoy as above with a self-igniting light.
H. Foghorn sound signal.
I. A VHF Radio shall be carried. A mobile phone, in a waterproof case, may be carried [AW1].
J. For Cruising races beyond the Harbour Limits i.e. East of a line between North Head and Bean Rock:a) Dinghy capable of supporting all the crew will be towed if specified in the Notice of Race.b) Flares: 2 Red Hand held, 2 orange smoke flares – will be carried.c) Grab Bag will be carried. (Equipment in the grab bag may be counted as part of the general equipment under Safety Regulations Part II).

It should include: Flares, Waterproof hand held VHF, Sharp Knife in a sheath, Cell phone in a waterproof bag, First Aid kit, Whistle, Torch, Sunscreen, Thermal protective aids, water & spare batteries.

[AW1] Skippers are reminded that it is a legal requirement to hold a Marine Radio Operators Certificate if using a VHF radio.

Yachting New Zealand: Safety Regulations of Sailing 2021- 2024