TIME TO REVIVE THE CHAMPION’S CUP?

Back in the 1970’s David Hollom, donated the “Champions Cup” for competition amongst the class Champions in Radio sailing. . Invitations were initially extended to all National & District Champions and later when the Ranking lists were introduced ther were used to select the invitees.

The event held over 2 days with day 1, 2 boat Match racing, and day 2 fleet racing and the scores combined to find the winner.

Initially the Marblehead was used successfully for many years, and later the event was sailed in the IOM class.

Interest from sailors fell away, and the event has not been held for several years.

Readers of the Yachts & Yachting website will have seen the report of the recently held Endeavour Trophy, (Champion of Champions) in the Dinghy world.

This annual invitation only event was held as usual at the Burnham on Crouch YC and for the first time for several years, all boats were supplied and were all the same Melges 15 Dinghys. None of the Champion entrants had the chance to sail the boats before the Friday of the event.

It occurred to me that we in the radio sailing world could attempt to revive our “Champions Cup” by adapting a similar approach using one of our “out of the box” classes, Laser, DF95 or the new up coming IOM “Mint” from Joysway.

So is now the time to bring this once very popular event back?

Good idea Derek👍

A great concept introduced by Dave H long before my time here that I enjoyed competing in. For reasons you mention it could never be a true reflection of a Champions Cup due to the top skippers in the class used holding a significant advantage over invited skippers possibly not familiar with that class.

I made the suggestion many years ago that the RC Laser be used as it would take the largest number of ‘Champions’ out of their comfort zone much like the Endeavour event. The event would be held over an MYA AGM weekend at a suitable venue that bought a full weekend of activities including tuning seminars, trade show, class test sailing, an evening dinner with MYA yearly presentations to national champions and a Champion of Champions for those that come along to enjoy the weekend to take a look at.

There were a good number of reasons offered as to why the idea could never work…..

A good opportunity to bring skippers from all classes together for a weekend with a Sunday AM AGM.

In an only vaguely similar vein (thinking of crossovers or differences to dinghy sailing), is RC Team Racing something that's ever been tried...?

Hi Colin,

Yes back in the 1970's we had various Team racing events then in the Marblehead class but due to the disparity of the boats it wasn't a great success.

We have done it for fun at our Barbeque evenings at big events using Lasers which at least are all the same.!

Many years ago I took part in something called the Classmaster Event. Three entrants from almost every singlehanded class sailed their own boats and then each of the other classes in a series of handicap races. This certainly removed the bias from sailing your own class (I'd barely seen an International Canoe before I had to sail one!). Something similar for RC Classes would require the equivalent of PY numbers for each class but any class handicap advantage evens out because you have to sail all the classes.

More recently I took part in the DeQuincy Cup organised by the London Model Yacht Club. This was team racing in 10Rs. I believe they used 95s the following year.

Team racing between clubs tried last year in the east, and hope it is on the programme again, worked well!

And the championship idea…. Superb!