The Marcon Trophy was donated to the Trident Owners Association by a company building Trident Class Yachts, Marine Construction (UK) Ltd at Woolston, Southampton.

This award is presented each year at the AGM to the skipper / crew of a Trident Yacht for the best Log submitted that year. The Log's submitted are judged by a panel composed of TOA committee members and are therefore subjective.

The 2005 winners were Peter and Christine Ives of Rochester for an eventful voyage on board Mandura sailing from Gillingham Marina on the river Medway crossing over the Thames Estuary to the narrow muddy drying waters of Leigh Creek in Essex on an August Bank Holiday weekend.

As with all voyages it's not necessarily the distance travelled or the exotic (or less exotic) places visited that make the voyage eventful, it's often the weather or mishaps that shape the experience and possibly determine the outcome. Peter and Christine (and Mandura) survived the stormy weather that Bank Holiday weekend and (as far as I know) are still successfully sailing Mandura from Gillingham Marina.

I personally think that this particular Log exemplifies the quick learning curve of the crew when sailing a vessel for the first time in conditions that were unexpected and shows the trust soon found in the vessel, not to mention ones own abilities to handle the various situations encountered.

So before our TOA membership finally put away this year's records, charts and Logs with the laying-up, would you please consider submitting an account of a memorable voyage that you have made as an entry for the 2006 Marcon Trophy?

The Trophy is a scale model of a Trident Class Yacht in silver and does make a very fitting display on the mantle piece, bookcase or possibly one's club display cabinet.

The bad news is that the Trophy has to be returned at the end of the year. Well, that's the only bad news, the rest is good news.