Reviving a legacy, Jalapeño returns with a new generation of women sailors ready to take on a test at Table Bay.
Cape Town, South Africa (16 September 2025) – The Lipton Cup Challenge has been recognised as South Africa’s most prestigious sailing event, and this year’s regatta saw a young team of women stepping into the spotlight. Aboard the boat Jalapeño was an all-female crew with an average age of just 21 taking on the competition, becoming only the second all-women’s team to enter the 2025 edition.
Jalapeño already carries a proud legacy. Back in 2002, she was the only boat in the J22 Championship to be sailed entirely by women. Now two decades later she returned to Cape Town’s Table Bay with another groundbreaking crew determined to leave their mark on the 71st Lipton Cup Challenge.
For Allyssa and her teammates Jemima, Mitzi, and Tammy, the journey was one to remember as it went far beyond results.
“It’s been one of the hardest regattas I’ve ever done, and I couldn’t be prouder of Jalapeño and this incredible team,” they shared in a reflective post on Instagram.
View this post on Instagram
Their campaign was made possible by teamwork, with the help of the Gqeberha Yacht Club, who backed their entry, as well as partners like Ullman Sails and Ullman Gear, who supplied the gear and sails to keep Jalapeño competitive. Beyond that, an extended network of supporters from riggers and boat builders to family and friends ensured the boat was ready to withstand the challenges of Table Bay.
Allyssa emphasised that the heart of the story lay in the crew dynamic itself. She credited her teammates for handling every obstacle “with grace” and for showing just what could be achieved when they pulled together.
“These three women have taught me so much and I couldn’t be more grateful for them.”
Sailing in the Lipton Cup has always been regarded as a test of grit, but for this young crew, it also became a platform to showcase possibility. By returning Jalapeño to the country’s top regatta, they honoured her history.
Sources: Jalapeno Racing
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