Saldanha Bay Yacht Club has officially entered the 2026 Lipton Challenge, returning after an impressive fourth-place finish in last year’s contest.
The team will once again be led by Theo Yon, one of the most experienced sailors in this year’s fleet as he prepares for his 17th Lipton Challenge. A former Lipton Challenge winner and multiple-time podium achiever, Theo brings a wealth of experience to the campaign. Joining him at the helm is Olympian Stefano Marcia, who represented South Africa at the 2016 Olympic Games in the ILCA (Laser) class. A runner-up at the 2023 J22 National Championships, this will be Stefano’s fourth Lipton Challenge, having raced in both the L26 and Cape31 eras, including a winning campaign aboard Orion in 2021.
With two of the four crew returning from last year’s campaign, Saldanha Bay has retained valuable experience while strengthening an already competitive team. After recording a race win, a second place and two third-place finishes on their way to fourth overall in 2025, Theo and Stefano will undoubtedly be aiming to add another Lipton Title to their résumé.
