The Blue Bird Cup was offered in 2011 by Skylark’s owner, Tara Getty, to the winner of a race between Skylark and a yacht she chooses to challenge in a head-to-head sailing competition. The Cup, originally made by Garrads of London and presented in Geneva in 1938 to Sir Malcolm Campbell by the United Nations for his Land Speed Record of that year, is now engraved on its base for “Speed Under Sail”. In 2011, Skylark challenged Argyll, a larger S&S yawl, owned by TV actor and keen sailor Griff Rhys Jones. Argyll won the first event which was two short circuits of a course in the bay of Saint-Tropez.
In 2012, Skylark again challenged Argyll in what she considered “unfinished business”. The course was agreed between both yachts – a start between Blue Bird and her tender to a windward mark (the 80m superyacht Talitha) round twice. An exciting start to the race saw both boats approaching the pin end on port. Skylark appeared to try and sail between Argyll and the mark but, at the last moment, dipped Argyll’s stern and powered beneath her to take a commanding position to leeward. Skylark then covered Argyll in the building breeze and extended to a handsome lead by the finish.
Both crews then lunched aboard Talitha where Griff Rhys Jones presented the Cup to 2012 winners Tara & Jessica Getty.
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