Giovannini & Progli snatch Lipton Cup!

“YOUNG BUCKS” TRIUMPH!
In a nail biting charge to the finish line, Andrea Giovannini & Markus Progli, sailing Team Intasure Marine Insurance for False Bay Yacht Club crossed the line three boats ahead of, Defending Champion, Greg Davis, sailing Colorpress for Knysna Yacht Club. To win today, they needed to make sure that they finished with two boats between themselves and Davis and for the majority of the race, they were just ahead of Davis, but in the second to last leg, they made a huge push  and rounded the bottom mark with three boats between themselves and Davis. On the final beat to windward, and the finish line, Davis managed to claw back one position, but it was just not enough. Andrea Giovannini & co-skipper, Markus Progli crossed the line with the required two boat buffer to become the new Lipton Cup Champions.

With their win, they have brought the highest honour in South African sailing to themselves and their club, False Bay Yacht Club. Next year, the event will be sailed in False Bay, where they will have to defend their title. Winning The Lipton Cup Challenge is the highest achievement for sailors in Southern Africa and this year’s event saw the closest racing ever seen in the over 100 year old challenge event.

Speaking to Andrea and Markus, just after their win, Andrea told me that winning The Lipton Cup Challenge is something he has dreamed of since he started sailing. Markus echoed his sentiments and for this team of young sailors, aged from 13 to 29, they have climbed the Everest of South African Offshore Sailing and won, against the most experienced team ever to defend the Cup. The Team on Colorpress have collectively won The Lipton Cup Challenge a total of 31 times and defending champions has personally won it 7 times out of the last 10 Challenges.

Congratulations to Andrea Giovannini & Markus Progli and their Intasure Marine Insurance Team who now hold the Lipton Cup trophy and who will defend it next year from False Bay Yacht Club.

By Matthew Thomas