RB Sailing: Clipper Cup 1978

New Zealand's Monique, a Farr 42-footer (rating just under the Two Ton limit at 31.9ft IOR) was the top individual yacht of the inaugural 1978 Clipper Cup (photo Phil Uhl)

Forty-one yachts, representing Australia, France (Tahiti), New Zealand, Japan, Taiwan and the United States, competed in the inaugural Clipper Cup regatta held in 5-12 August 1978. The series incorporated a 100-mile race around Oahu, three 30-mile offshore Olympic Triangle courses and the 775-mile Around the State race (the latter race had been held six times since 1972).

Kialoa III with all extras set during one of the offshore races during the 1978 Clipper Cup (photo Phil Uhl)

Fortunately renowned marine photographer Phil Uhl was there to capture the action, and this article features a number of his photos from the series.

One Tonners Country Boy (left) and Magic Pudding (ex-B195) enjoy a close battle during the 1978 Clipper Cup - Magic Pudding went on to finish as third yacht overall in the individual standings, and Country Boy was 10th (photo Phil Uhl)

Adding prestige to the regatta were two of the world’s fastest Maxi yachts, Jim Kilroy’s 79-foot ketch Kialoa III and Huey Long’s 79-foot sloop Ondine. Ondine completed the Around Oahu Race in a record 13 hours and 18 minutes, edging out Kialoa by a scant six seconds, in one of the then closest boat-for-boat finishes in yacht racing history (although Ondine owed Kialoa time on handicap due to a 3.2ft difference in rating). The balance of the fleet completed the course during the night and the following morning. Taiwan’s small 30-foot Don Quixote (a Farr Half Tonner rating 21.6ft IOR), stole the show with an overall win on handicap (though team results were limited to yachts with a minimum rating of 27ft).

The Farr Half Tonner Don Quixote won the Around Oahu Race, and finished as 12th yacht overall

The New Zealand Farr-designed One Tonner Lovelace finished ninth overall and formed part of the third placed New Zealand 'B' team (photo Phil Uhl)

The next three Olympic course races held of Waikiki resulted in the finest exhibition of offshore racing ever seen in Hawaii. With blustery trade winds of 20-25 knots with a warm Hawaiian sun, competition amongst the fleet was outstanding. Particularly keen was the racing among the One Tonners, New Zealand’s Country Boy and Lovelace, Hawaii’s Carrie Ann V and Australia’s Magic Pudding (ex-B195). Australia’s Ragamuffin (Syd Fischer), a Frers 47-footer and New Zealand’s Monique (Jim Dowell), a Farr Two Tonner, each dominated their respective Class A and Class B divisions by sweeping all three Olympic events.

Syd Fischer's Ragamuffin, second yacht overall and part of the winning Australian team (photo Phil Uhl)

Big Schott, a Peterson 41 Two Tonner (rating 32.1ft), finished seventh overall and helped the Australian 'A' Team to win the King Kamehameha Trophy

The Around the State Race presented the fleet with every sailing condition known to sailors. A light but steady breeze gave some hope that Phantom’s record set in 1977 would be bettered. On the 300-mile reach from Niihau to South Point on the Big Island, conditions varied from heavy winds to almost nothing as they approached the Point. After rounding South Point, the fleet immediately hit strong winds and began beating up the treacherous Ka’u Coast.

The Bruce King-designed 48-foot bilgeboarder Hawkeye (part of the US 'Blue' team) carried a high 42.3ft rating and struggled upwind but nevertheless finished 14th overall (photo Phil Uhl)

Ondine with spinnaker and blooper set (photo Phil Uhl)

Finally Ondine, after battling Kialoa for nearly five days, claimed line honours off Waikiki, with Kialoa finishing three hours later. Magic Pudding had showed great speed in the light air stages, allowing her to finish six hours ahead of the next One Tonner, Carrie Ann, and was the handicap winner.

Magic Pudding sails upwind past South Point on her way to winning the Round the State Race (photo Phil Uhl)

Monique took first place overall on handicap for the series, winning the Clipper Cup, with Ragamuffin second and Magic Pudding third. Australia’s ‘A’ Team of Ragamuffin, Big Schott and Magic Pudding won the King Kamehameha Trophy for the top team. The New Zealand ‘A’ Team (Monique, Country Boy and Gerontius) were second, and New Zealand ‘B’ (Inca, Lovelace and Anticipation) were third. In the battle of the Maxis, Kialoa edged out Ondine in the overall results, finishing 17th and 18th respectively.