09/14/2026
Thermopylae Trophy Race 2026
🏆 1st Albatro
2nd Minimus (Congratulations on the new boat Paul)
3rd Kaitoa
Built in Aberdeen in 1868 the clipper ship “Thermopylae” was the fastest ship on the planet towards the end of the age of sail, surpassed only by the famous “Cutty Sark” which is reported to have been built explicitly to beat the records previously set by Thermopylae. As her apogee passed, Thermopylae was used for fast cargo transport between the West Coast of North
America and Asia. Between 1891 and 1895 Thermopylae made Victoria her home port, carrying rice and lumber between Victoria and Rangoon. She met her end off Portugal in 1912.
The “Thermopylae Trophy” is a miniature replica of the ceremonial ships bell and was presented in 1968 to RVYC by the “Thermopylae Club” to commemorate the launching of the clipper ship Thermopylae and to encourage the continued pursuit of high performance sailing.
The trophy is awarded to the overall winner of a 14-25 mile race off the Victoria waterfront
among handicap rated keelboats.
