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- The following is part of an article from the "Seebreeze", a Royal Vancouver Yacht Club monthly publication. -

You will notice a spectacular model in the stairwell of our Clubhouse. It is a model of the "Lady Van" and we would like to share some of her exciting background with you.

For more than 20 years at the begining of the last century, Vancouver yachtsmen vied, without success, to best Seatle sailors in R-Class boats: the glamour class of the day. At stake was the imposing Lipton Cup, a trophy that Sir Thomas Lipton himself established in the Pacific Northwest in 1912. Despite years of effort, Vancouver was never able to field a challenger capable of beating Ted Geary's "Sir Tom". Even the deep pockets and spoting passion of B.T. Rogers's purpose built "Turenga" (frequently skippered by member Paddy Thomson's grandfather, Ron Maitland) could never quite catch "Sir Tom". In the 1920s, the Club tried again with "Patricia", this time using a C.E. Nicholson design. "Patricia" was faster than "Turenga" but not fast enaugh to best "Sir Tom". Other challengers followed:"Riowna" in 1925, "Lady Pat" in 1927; but "Sir Tom"even 15 years old, flourished unbeaten.
It remained for a syndicate of Vancouver yachtsmen to commission a new challenger in 1927, again designed by Camper & Nicholson's. "Lady Van", built at Vancouver Drydock, measured just shy of 39 feet overall, with a waterline length of 22.9 feet and a beam of 7.4 feet. Her first year of competition, she shaved"Sir Tom's" lead down to seconds. In her second season, she won the Lipton Cup for Vancouver at last, with Jack Cribb at the helm. After that, the white hulled sloop was purchased by Club member Eric Hamber who campaigned it to frequent victories in local races. She won the Lipton Cup again in 1934, 1937(with a woman at the helm, Dorothy Wylie), 1938, 1939 and 1940.
With the outbreak of the Second Worl War, R-Class racing in Pacific coastal waters began to die away. By 1942, defense regulation required all Vancouver yachts to stay east of Jericho base, and racing ceased completely until the end of the war.
"Lady Van" was sold to Seatle owners where she still survives, more hulk than hind, on the hard near the Lake Washington locks.

courtesy of The R.V.Y.C. History Committee