June 18, 2009. Each year this Cup is awarded at the Association's annual general membership dinner for the best performance submitted by a member's S&S designed yacht. The criteria alternate biennially, and the racing has to be one organised by a nationally recognised authority. One year the award is for an offshore race of over 100 NM and an overnight passage, the next year it is for a race around fixed marks or buoys in daylight of at least 18 NM. For 2008/9 the award is for racing around the buoys. The key measurement to determine the winner is the boat's percent winning margin over her competitor.

This year's Annual General Meeting was in Edinburgh, Scotland, June 12-14, and the Cup was awarded to Edgar Cato's Dorade, Olin Stephens' restored 1931 transatlantic race winner, for her winning performance in the 2008 Castine/Camden Classic Yacht Race (Maine/USA). She beat the 52 ft Q Class Falcon, followed by two New York 32s. Dorade's winning margin over her competition was 4.6%. The press release from Castine YC covering her win can be seen by clicking here.

Finishing 2nd for the Global Challenge Trophy was Ron Breault's Marionette, a Dolphin 24 racing in a two day event organised by the Off Soundings Club off Block Island/Newport (Rhode Island/USA) for their 75th annual Spring Series. Marionette  won both races in her Class of 12 boats beating a Morgan 28 and an O'Day 34, and winning her Class in the Around Block Island Race by 7 minutes against her next competitor. Additionally, she had the best corrected time in the Around the Island Race in the total fleet of 135 boats. Marionette's winning margin over her competition was 4.425%, a differential to Dorade's winning margin of 18 seconds! The website article covering Marionette's win at Block Island can be seen by clicking here.

Finishing 3rd was Lief Ramm-Schmidt's Tarantella II, a Swan 37 and a past winner of this award. She won the 2008, 26.2 mile Henry Lloyd race in Finland, organised by the Helsingfors Segelklubb, Helsinki, Finland, by 2.02% against modern competition.

The official announcement was posted on the S&S Association website which can be seen by clicking here.