FAIRHOPE, Ala. — The Fairhope City Council granted a variance to the sound ordinance to the Fairhope Yacht Club Monday night for a party April 25, that will feature The Tip Tops, the popular dance band from Mobile.

“We humbly ask can we please keep the sound going until 11 p.m.,” Vivian Weaver said at last Monday’s meeting. “This year is the 50th anniversary of the Dauphin Island sailboat race.”

Weaver and her husband, Randy, also presented No. 13 in a limited-edition print of a painting done by B. Sumrall, 74, of Spanish Fort, who has painted many of the local arts and crafts festivals posters.

“Blanche Sumrall came out of retirement to do this work that we would like to present to the city of Fairhope,” she said. “She has honored us with a painting depicting 50 years of sailing in the area.”

Randy Weaver said they expect 2,000 sailors from seven states during the three days of the regatta from April 25 though April 27.

“It’s the nation’s largest sailboat race,” he said.

Sumrall said she was approached early last year to do the painting.

“They wanted something dramatic because of the 50th anniversary,” she said. “I spent a lot of time pondering what it should be.”

The painting shows a lone sailboat coming out of the water, with dolphins underwater, and seagulls and pelicans in the clouds, as it passes by Middle Bay Lighthouse, she said.

“It’s meant to create a mood that you’re out in the regatta, like when you’re out sailing by the Middle Bay Lighthouse,” Sumrall said.

City officials said the painting would be displayed somewhere in the City Hall complex.

“We’re also also going to create a small version of the village of Fairhope at the yacht club with a replica of City Hall and other buildings,” Vivian Weaver said. “The whole city of Fairhope is invited to come to this event.”

The City Council had little discussion before granting the variance to allow the music to continue until 11 p.m.

“The 4 Tops, Otis Redding, The Temptations and Marvin Gaye are just a sample of the artists the Tips Tops take on,” a Web site about the band states. “Mix in some ‘50s from Elvis and Sam Cooke, and some ‘80s for Kool and the Gang and The Commodores, and you have three decades of music.”