Report from Ullman Racing, representing Royal Natal Yacht Club

For the first time in several years, the Lipton Cup returned to a true one-design format, this time raced in J/22s. Boats from across the country were sourced, revamped, resprayed, and in some cases rebuilt.

At Ullman, our first step was to update the J/22 sail designs to align with the latest class rules and begin testing. After encouraging results at the J/22 Nationals in June, and with a freshly fitted transom, our boat was brought down to Cape Town to begin training in earnest.

We managed to string together a solid training block, including a pre-event regatta where our boat speed again looked promising. All that remained was getting helmsman and Ullman agent from the Cayman Islands Mike Farrington, also known as The King of the Caribbean, on board.

Sailing four-up meant some serious weight cutting was needed to make the pre-race weigh-in. After some intense sauna time, we scraped in under the limit. With that behind us, the boat hit the water, and it was game on.

Day 1: Big Breeze, Bigger Moments

The regatta opened in a strong southeaster with the compulsory quadrilateral course. With no discards, consistency was key. After a solid start we made up a few places during the race to open the scoring with a 2nd.

Race 2 proved pivotal. With gusts pushing 30 knots, we rounded the top mark in good shape but soon buried the bow a couple of times, flooding the cockpit. A botched gybe then led to a broach, with the spinnaker wrapping at the masthead and costing us what felt like an eternity. We recovered to climb back to 8th, only to be hit with a DSQ after a protest for a crew member standing on the second downwind leg and holding onto the backstay in an attempt to lift the bow, leaving us with 19 points and a mountain to climb.

Day 2: Finding Our Rhythm

A steadier southeaster and a windward-leeward format gave us a chance to regroup. We scored another 2nd, showing good speed, but a late spinnaker drop mishap cost us in Race 2, leaving us 5th.

Day 3: Golden Teapot

The last compulsory course, the triangle, was sailed in a light southwester near Granger Bay. We had our most consistent day yet, coming away with a 2nd and a 3rd and securing the coveted Golden Teapot for best boat of the day.

Day 4: Climbing the Leaderboard

Another light SW brought more windward-leewards. The team clicked into rhythm, posting a 2nd and our first race win of the regatta. We claimed the Golden Teapot for the second consecutive day and climbed into podium contention.

Day 5: Podium Push

With long odds to catch the ever-consistent Hermanus Yacht Club, we went into the final day with everything to play for.

A 2nd in Race 1 drew us level for the silver, but a poor start in Race 2 left us buried in a shoreline drag race. We clawed back to 5th, securing 3rd overall at the 2025 Lipton Cup.

As always in sailing, there were plenty of “what ifs,” but we walked away proud. Our Ullman J/22 sails were quick, with a high mode few could match. The boat performed in every condition, and as a team, we grew stronger each day.

Crew:
Helm: Mike Farrington
Tactics & Trim: Andrea Giovannini
Trim & Sail Design: Matt Trautman
Bow: Hayden Miller

A hugely enjoyable and successful week all round, with competitive racing, a fast boat, and the camaraderie of a top fleet.

Royal Natal finished 3rd overall, 1st KwaZulu-Natal Boat, and Winner of the Triangle course. 

photos Bronny Daniels