After 5 years the Statsraad Lehmkuhl has regained the Boston Teapot Trophy. The Norwegian barque has won the prestigious award for the 9th time and is just one triumph away from equaling the record of Spain’s Juan Sebastian de Elcano.
Krzysztof Romański, 2.02.2023
The best recorded result in 2022 was of the Norwegian barque, which covered the distance of 1125 miles while sailing from Newport (USA) to Horta on the Azores. The ship was commanded by captain Marcus Albert Seidl and the crew consisted of cadets from Norwegian Naval Academy. It is worth mentioning that the runner-up was the Mexican barque Cuauhtemoc, which sailed 1055 miles.
The Boston Teapot Trophy is one of the most prestigious awards in the world of tall ships. The little silver tea kettle has been awarded by Sail Training International to the vessel that, sailing under sail, covers the longest distance in 124 hours (5 days and 4 hours) in a given year. Where did the number come from? Opinions are divided. Some sources point to historical origins – in the 19th century that’s how long it took the fastest clippers to sail from New York to Boston. However, Paul Bishop, in his book „Sailing Ships of the World”, advises not to search for a deeper meaning here. „How this interval was established can only be described as something typically British” – he writes.
The history of the trophy dates back to 1964, when the fleet of sailing ships were returning from Boston to Europe after the transatlantic Operation Sail. The sponsor of one of the yachts stated that he would donate additional funds if the vessel participated in the regatta. It was difficult to organize a traditional race on short notice. So it was decided to compete in a different way – the winner was to be the sailing ship that would cover the longest distance in 24 hours. The first winner was the Italian yacht Corsaro II under the command of Captain Augustino Straulino – Olympic gold medalist in the Star class in 1952 in Helsinki.
The Spanish Juan Sebastian de Elcano can boast of the highest number of victories (10). Right behind her are the Argentine full rigger Libertad and the Statsraad Lehmkuhl, which have won 9 times each.
Below is the full list of Boston Teapot Trophy winners:
2022: Statsraad Lehmkuhl (Norway)
2021: Frederic Chopin (Poland)
2020: Juan Sebastian de Elcano (Spain)
2019: Frederic Chopin (Poland)
2018: Statsraad Lehmkuhl (Norway)
2017: Statsraad Lehmkuhl (Norway)
2016: Statsraad Lehmkuhl (Norway)
2015: Juan Sebastian De Elcano (Spain)
2014: Statsraad Lehmkuhl (Norway)
2013: Cuauhtemoc (Mexico)
2012: Statsraad Lehmkuhl (Norway)
2011: Statsraad Lehmkuhl (Norway)
2010: Statsraad Lehmkuhl (Norway)
2009: Sagres (Portugal)
2008: Statsraad Lehmkuhl (Norway)
2007: Libertad (Argentina)
2006: Juan Sebastian De Elcano (Spain)
2005: Juan Sebastian De Elcano (Spain)
2004: Juan Sebastian De Elcano (Spain)
2003: Cuauhtemoc (Mexico)
2002: Cuauhtemoc (Mexico)
2001: Juan Sebastian De Elcano (Spain)
2000: Libertad (Argentina)
1999: Juan Sebastian De Elcano (Spain)
1998: Libertad (Argentina)
1997: Juan Sebastian De Elcano (Spain)
1996: Not awarded
1995: Kaiwo Maru (Japan)
1994: Kaiwo Maru (Japan)
1993: Nippon Maru (Japan)
1992: Libertad (Argentina)
1991: Kaiwo Maru (Japan)
1990: Kaiwo Maru (Japan)
1989: Nippon Maru (Japan)
1988: Dar Młodzieży (Poland)
1987: Libertad (Argentina)
1986: Nippon Maru (Japan)
1985: Libertad (Argentina)
1984: Not awarded
1983: Gorch Fock (Germany)
1982: Cisne Branco /yacht/ (Brazil)
1981: Libertad (Argentina)
1980: Not awarded
1979: Juan Sebastian de Elcano (Spain)
1978: Not awarded
1977: Not awarded
1976: Libertad (Argentina)
1975: Not awarded
1974: Juan Sebastian de Elcano (Spain)
1973: Eagle (USA)
1972: Eagle (USA)
1971: Esmeralda (Chile)
1970: Gloria (Colombia)
1969: Gorch Fock (Germany)
1968: Gorch Fock (Germany)
1967: Gorch Fock (Germany)
1966: Libertad (Argentina)
1965: Gorch Fock (Germany)
1964: Corsaro II (Italy)