Life Members Trophy Race
A long-standing QCYC tradition celebrating the contribution of the Club’s Life Members and the history of yacht racing on Moreton Bay.
The 2027 Life Members Race
The Life Members Trophy Race forms the third and final race of the QCYC Heritage Series for the 2026–27 summer season.
The race continues a tradition that began during the 1981–82 season and remains an important part of the Club’s summer racing programme.
The Origins of the Life Members Trophy
The origin of the Life Members Trophy Race goes back to the 1981–82 season.
Ivan Holm, the Club’s fifth Commodore from 1955–1957 and again in 1961–62, was made a Life Member in 1964.
After almost twenty years as a Life Member, he wrote to all sixteen Life Members then living. He proposed that, since they enjoyed the benefits of membership without annual fees, they could make a contribution to the Club in some way to support and encourage the noble sport of yacht racing.
He suggested the establishment of a significant trophy to match existing notable events such as the Peg Barnett and Nora Barnett trophies, which were at that time highly sought-after local events.
Creating the Trophy
Ivan’s proposal was that the Life Members each contribute an amount equal to one year’s subscription to create a fund, the interest from which would provide a significant trophy for annual competition.
Expressed in today’s dollars, the suggested contributions would have generated a fund of about $6,500 and provided an annual trophy value of approximately $200 even at 2.5 percent.
Having gained virtually universal support, the first event was planned for the 1981–82 season.
The Original Course
A unique course was established to mark the event. Starting from the regular starting line off Shorncliffe Pier, the fleet sailed directly to and around Mud Island before returning to the pier-head finish.
Another distinctive feature of the event was that the rounding direction was optional — competitors could choose their own way around Mud Island.
A Tradition That Continues
The event has continued to be held annually since its introduction.
The course has been varied over time. The Fisheries Beacon was first added to improve the line from the pier. Later, the start was moved away from the pier to its present location part way towards the Fisheries Beacon.
More recently, due to Brisbane Harbour requirements, the crossing point of the shipping channel has been limited to near the Coffee Pots, but the unique “choose your own way around” tradition remains.
The Perpetual Trophy
Ivan constructed the perpetual trophy himself, and it continues to be presented to this day.
He did, however, cause some embarrassment to himself by skippering his ketch Laurabada to victory in the inaugural event.
The Inaugural Winner
The accompanying photographs show the Perpetual Trophy and the trophy presented to Laurabada after winning the inaugural Life Members Trophy Race.
