The Thomas Lipton National Canadian Regatta Hydroplane Cup, 1929
Height: 25½in (65cm) Width: 11½in (29cm) Depth: 7in (18cm) Weight: 82 oz troy
This tall Art Deco silver trophy was made by Goldsmiths and Silversmiths in London for the Canadian National Exhibiton Regatta of 1929. The spherical bowl is raised on a tapering baluster base with repoussé acanthus leaves on a radiating gadrooned and scalloped foot. The cover is surmounted by the winged, draped and sandal-shod figure of the goddess Nike launching into flight from the crest of a wave. The handles are formed by similar winged female figures. Each side is embossed and chased with a victor’s wreath enclosing, on one side, a motorboat carving through waves below the crossed enamel flags of Great Britain and Canada, and a burgee of The Royal Harwich Yacht Club above the legend ‘Presented by Sir Thomas J. Lipton Bart. KVCO to the National Yacht Club of Toronto for competition outboard hydroplane races Canadian National Exhibition Regatta 1929’ on the other. Hallmarked.
The Royal Harwich Yacht Club had a proud tradition of supporting international ‘big class’ racing. In 1869 Commodore James Ashbury enjoyed a fruitful racing season with his schooner Cambria including winning a race around the Isle of Wight against two of America’s fastest schooners. This prompted him to challenge for the America’s Cup in 1870. Ashbury raced across the Atlantic in a duel against his American arch-rival, James Gordon Bennett, under Royal Harwich colours, unexpectedly winning the boat-for-boat match against Bennett’s larger and faster schooner. Pitted against the entire New York Yacht Club fleet, Ashbury failed to win the Cup, but tried again in 1870 with a new schooner, Livonia. The RHYC was more happily involved in the America’s Cup in 1920 when their Vice Commodore, Sir William Burton, helmed Lipton’s fourth Shamrock, coming within one race of winning the famous trophy.
