Clipper Cup 1982

The third Hawaii IOR Series held in 1982 featured 80 boats from eight countries (Australia, Bermuda, Canada, Hong Kong, Japan, New Zealand, South Africa and the USA). The Maxi fleet would feature eight yachts including Condor and Condor of Bermuda, Kialoa IV and Windward Passage. The series was modified for 1982 by substituting a new 150-mile middle distance race from Oahu to Maui along the north shore of Molokai Island, and the Clipper Cup Trophy would become the principal trophy for international team competition.  

Japanese yacht Super Witch (photo Phil Uhl/Facebook)

The 1982 series was a particularly windy regatta and affected by the remnants of two hurricanes that passes to the south of the Hawaiian Islands, and made the regatta one of the most memorable and exciting events of the decade. Winds gusting 45 knots created big seas but the brilliant sunshine of Hawaii prevailed throughout. Gear failure was rampant and the new IOR designs were pushed to the limit. By the end of the series there were seven broken masts strewn about Ala Wai Harbour, a few broken bones and contusions, and various fractured equipment.

The Japanese yacht Tobiume was the top boat of the series and winner of Class E (photo Guy Gurney)

The Davidson 50 yacht Great Fun (photo Sea Spray)

The Olympic Triangle courses provided excitement never before dreamed of in offshore racing, with Maxi yachts surfing like One Tonners. The wild surfing conditions and severe broaches experienced by many of the yachts made the Olympic races a bonanza for the photographers. 

The Davidson 40 Libalia Too (ex-Brother Dominic) (photo Phil Uhl/Facebook)

Australia's Margaret Rintoul III finished in 7th place overall and 2nd in Class B, and part of the second placed Australian team (photo Bruce Brown/Yacht Racing/Cruising)

The Farr 48-footer Sangvind (photo Phil Uhl)

Kialoa IV on port tack approaches Condor on starboard

Condor of Bermuda and Windward Passage arrive at a windward mark during the 1982 Clipper Cup (photo Phil Uhl/Facebook)

Windward Passage runs downwind with her spinnaker and blooper in perfect trim (photo Phil Uhl)

The first sailing of the Molokai Race was postponed for 24 hours due to the forecast for 45 knot winds and 24 foot seas. When the fleet finally set out the winds had abated to 35 knots and the seas were running at 18 feet, with a forecast for both wind and seas to reduce during the race. One of the most notable incidents was Kialoa IV's broach while running downwind at 22 knots, which resulted in a broken boom and the loss of all the masthead electronic gear as the top of the mast was dragged through the water. Windward Passage took line honours, setting a fast time of 15 hours and 32 minutes for the race, while the Davidson 50 Great Fun was the overall winner on handicap.

Great Fun rounds a leeward mark during the 1982 Clipper Cup

US yacht Bravura in tight reaching conditions, ahead of Australia's Sweet Caroline (to leeward) and New Zealand's Bad Habits (photo Phil Uhl)

The Around the State Race was not subject to the same extremes of wind and sea conditions that had prevailed for the first part of the series, but there was enough wind to allow Kialoa IV to set a new course record of 3 days, 23 hours and 40 minutes, the first yacht to ever sail the course in under four days. 

The ageing Condor of Bermuda wasn't able to compete with her newer namesake Condor, nor Kialoa IV (photo Phil Uhl)

Scarlett O'Hara and Challenge III run downwind in close company in typically fresh conditions during the 1982 Clipper Cup - Scarlett O'Hara would later lose her mast during the Molokai Race (photo Facebook)

1982 turned out to be the year for Japan to make its mark on offshore racing, as the Takai 39 Tobiume, with its short, powerful rig and low rating of 29.4ft (albeit that this rating was subject to a protest during the series), was able to withstand the extreme conditions of Hawaii to win the coveted position of top individual boat and the King Kamehameha Trophy. The USA Blue Team of Bullfrog, Great Fun and Kialoa IV captured the Clipper Cup.

Condor, seen here off the North Shore of Molokai (photo Phil Uhl)

Tobiume and Shenandoah (to windward) after the start of the Molokai Race (photo Phil Uhl)

Japan's Tobiume with Australia's Seaulater to the left (photo Alastair Black/Seahorse)

Both New Zealand teams found themselves off the pace in the prevailing conditions (even though Southern Raider had won the pre-series Sauza Cup), and unfortunately the top New Zealand yacht, 15th placed Jumpin' Jack Flash, was an individual entry. Jumpin' Jack Flash was a Davidson 52-footer, designed with barely a nod to the IOR, featured a long easily driven hull with a relatively short rig, and carried a hefty 49.0ft rating.

Jumpin Jack Flash surfs in towards a leeward mark (photo Charles P LeMieux III/Yacht Racing/Cruising)

Jumpin' Jack Flash climbs a big swell during the 1982 Clipper Cup (photo Phil Uhl/Facebook)

US yacht Irrational (ex-Forte) heads downwind, with New Zealand's Solara  heading off on port (photo Doug Peterson Tribute page)

Australian team yacht Hitchhiker

The bowman calls the startline aboard Condor of Bermuda (photo Phil Uhl)

The Davidson 38-footer Szechwan from Australia (sistership to Southern Raider), finished in third place overall in Class E

Anticipation (NZ), finished 17th overall and 6th in class (photo Phil Uhl)

Uin-na-Mara, well reefed down, crosses Australia's Challenge III as the fleet works up the Hawaiian coast just off the surf break

The Holland 41-footer Tomahawk (with Leading Lady coming downwind) battles an errant spinnaker at a leeward mark. She was third overall in Class D and was a member of the third placed USA White team (photo Phil Uhl)

Tomahawk, seen here at another leeward mark but with a more controlled spinnaker take-down than in the photo above (photo Phil Uhl)

Superwitch (photo Phil Uhl)

Bravura (photo Facebook)

The Holland 44 Big Apple, sailing for Japan (photo Guy Gurney)

US yacht Swiftsure, a Frers 58-footer, loses control of her spinnaker (photo Phil Uhl)

Cadillac Snapper from the US, a 44-foot version of the Davidson 46 Shockwave from 1980, with the Lidgard-designed Kalimera in the background (photo Phil Uhl)

US yacht Bullfrog, a Peterson 55, lead the series with a 2/2/5/2 series, until the final Round the State race, when she lost time with a man overboard and a damaged forestay toggle. She finished fourth in Class B (photo Alastair Black/Seahorse)

US yacht Bravura (first in Class C) leads Australian yacht Sweet Caroline downwind

The Britton Chance designed Glory from the US (photo John Malitte/Sea Spray)

This is the official documentary from the 1982 Clipper Cup, and includes some great sailing footage from this fantastic venue, featuring yachts such as Condor and Windward Passage slugging it out in the Maxi class, as well as many other top yachts of the time such as Great Fun (Davidson 50 shown in the video thumbnail), Police Car, Hitchhiker, Bravura, and Super Witch. The second race in particular was held in very fresh conditions - look out for some nice rolling downwind, broaches, errant bloopers, split spinnakers and broken masts (unfortunately YouTube has removed the sound).

The scene during one of the triangle races (photo Phil Uhl)

Article updated August 2024