Kip Regatta celebrates 25 years of sailing
by Marc Turner 11 May 2014 20:13 UTC
10-11 May 2014
The Kip Regatta celebrates its 25th Anniversary in May this year - a marriage, between Kip Marina and Royal Western Yacht Club, that has successfully stood the test of time.
Throughout the years Kip Regatta has partnered with a variety of sponsors, and is currently enjoying a long relationship with property company Savills.
Starting life in 1989 as The Kip International, named after its first sponsor International Paints, the Regatta has seen many changes over the years. Always following the One Design format (with similar boat models competing against each other), there were many changes ahead including CHS handicap being reinvented as the IRC (in date), sailing courses changing format, and three day races becoming the norm.
1989 saw the three handicap classes at the start line: IODs, Pipers, Loch Longs and Etchells. By1994 the Regatta had reached a mammoth ten classes and a new sponsor, Mount Gay Rum, provided their famous red caps, which can still be spotted at sailing events across the globe.
Further One Design classes were introduced over the years, like the Sigma 33, 38, and the infamous Sonatas and Sportboats. All added to the fleet size and combined to make the Kip Regatta a popular fixture in the Scottish sailing calendar, and the first 'major' regatta of the season.
Some boats have become notorious, including By the Way, Bullet iv, Toucan, Showdown, Chorus line, Arthur, Local Hero, Playback,Crackerjack and Salamander.
From Royal Western's point of view, the reputation of Kip Regatta was building year on year, and in terms of attendance, it was becoming more popular than their famous Tighnabruaich weekend.
In 1997 Royal Western introduced one of the club's most prestigious pieces of silverware the A W Steven Trophy. This was to become the most sought after prize on the Clyde as it was presented to the best overall performance from all the classes, and was awarded for the first time to the ½ tonner Sagacious.
Into the 21st century and Kip Regatta was proving as popular as ever, with 11 classes and over 70 boats on the water. The IRC Handicap classes 1 & 2 attracted the biggest numbers, with 21 & 17 boats respectively, but a healthy Sigma 33 class was still around with ten.
2000's overall winner was Allan Marr with his Etchells Flying Colours, and from then onwards the awards ping-ponged between Donald Sharps X-332 Tundra and John Corsons Elan 333s "Salamander", until 2006 when Graeme Hutchison came along with the mighty Jaru and Opal Marine became the principal sponsor.
2007 brought our current sponsor and the Savills Kip Regatta was born. Savills West Coast Director Andrew Perratt, a keen local sailor, saw an opportunity to promote the company name to a wide and growing audience. His "Grand Cru" team has participated at every regatta since, but to date has always allowed another competitor to take the title!
Another "local hero" the Bashford 41 took the overall trophy in 2007, skippered by Geoff Howison, while Keith Lord brought Acrewed Interest up from the Isle of Man for the 2008 title.
2011 saw Jim Dick begin his winning streak in Scotland, with the J-97 Jackaroo. Another popular win came the following g year when Chris Bonar took the title, after many years of coming close. He bowed out of the Clyde circuit on a high, selling his winning Baleteur 97, and moving abroad.
Duncan Chalmers Of Kip Marina said: "The event has traditionally been the testing ground for new race boats, and an opportunity to allow crews to ready their boats and put systems in place, under true race conditions. Our plans for Savills Kip Regatta are to keep this successful formula, ensuring the classes remain ultra-competitive, and growing the event.
"While the IRC and CYCA classes will remain to the fore, there are many opportunities development. We are continuing to expand the CYCA and white sail fleets, and will explore opportunities to introduce future One-Design and sport boat classes in future years."
Savills Kip Regatta 2014 takes place on the 10th & 11th of May, where The Chartroom will again be hosting the "Après Sail" party featuring food, drinks and the ever-popular Raggle Taggle Gypsies.