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The first International Regatta sponsored by the Smyrna Yacht Club
was held in 1932 for both sail and power boats. In those days, the
SYC regattas would draw spectators from 20,000 to 60,000. They came
from all over the U.S. and Europe. Notable at many of these events
were the Baron Von Rothschild, and the undisputed king of unlimited
hydroplane racing, Gar Wood. Racing at SYC continued through the
1930's , as the event sponsored by SYC gained worldwide acclaim.
Sir Thomas Lipton is famous for his many America's Cup Challenges with his famous "J boats". As a yacht racing enthusiast, Sir Lipton encouraged the sport by giving a number of prestigious trophies to yacht clubs around the world. In 1922, he donated a beautiful sterling cup to perpetuate the sport of yacht racing in the Central Florida area. The history of this cup is shrouded in mystery up until 1941, at the beginning of World War II, when the cup was placed in a bank vault for safety and forgotten until 1982. At that time, having sponsored International Lipton Cup regattas in the early 1930's, SYC adopted the cup in order to preserve the tradition. The trophy has resided in the trophy case at the SYC in a place of honor for over twenty years. SYC held Lipton Cup Regattas periodically until the last one in1989.
Because of the historical importance of the Cup, and the desire to carry out the vision of Sir Thomas Lipton, SYC revived the prestigious international sailing compitition in 2004 and have sponsored the event each year since. Sailors, power boaters, as well as non-boating members of the club, have brought this event full circle. Sir Thomas Lipton's Cup has banded the club in a single effort to put on a first class regatta, open to all those who wish to share the significance of the event.
