Umina skipper wins Lexcen trophy

Umina radio-controlled yacht skipper Frank Russell was the winner of the annual Ben Lexcen Trophy for 10R class model yachts on Saturday, July 14.

The event was sailed on the Northern Mariners home waters situated in the grounds of Mt Penang Parklands at Kariong.

Nineteen boats entered the event with boat skippers travelling from Wollongong, Moss Vale, Taree, Sydney and Newcastle.

The westerly breeze with gusts up to 15 knots kept skippers on their toes with rig changes between A rig and B rig for most of the day.

"When you sail these boats you look forward to a good breeze (stronger the better) as most of the boats carry four to five rigs which enables them to sail in conditions exceeding 25knots," said Northern Mariners secretary Mr Phil Page.

"These boats are very exciting with a strong breeze up their tail and skippers just love the blustery conditions.

"These boats use the same rules as their real counterparts with the distances reduced to suit their sizes and the competition is fast and furious with good rule knowledge a big advantage," said Mr Page.

Mr Russell, of the Northern Mariners Club, sailed his own designed and built Phoenix Five consistently to take the event by one point from fellow club member Chris Stokes who was sailing a UK designed Diamond.

Allen Roberts from the Kogarah Bay club was only a few points behind in third place sailing a Frank Russell Phoenix Three design.

"These boats are all built from exotic expensive materials: all carbon fibre with the mast sections also carbon imported from the UK," said Mr Page.

Media Release, 17 Jul 2012

Phil Page, Northern Mariners

Photo: Marilyn Russell