The International Etchells Class Association of Australia (IECAA) has honoured its precedents by naming the Corinthian trophy in honour of the late Alexander Milledge OAM, in time for the 2025 Australian Etchells Championship regatta.
The 2025 Australian Etchells Championship regatta will be held at Metung from November 1-5 this year on Lake King.
There are some great synergies between Milledge and the IECAC renaming the trophy in his honour, in time for the Metung regatta.
Metung was home of one of the first Etchells yachts, Brown Sugar, which was owned by Milledge, who lived at nearby Nungurner.
Milledge and Geoff Henke AO AM registered two of the first Etchells class yachts at Metung Yacht Club.
Milledge sailed Brown Sugar out of Metung and Brighton, with Henke, John Miles, Keith Morcombe, Stephen Bull, or the late Jim Bull on board.
Henke and Milledge sailed together from childhood, and were also members of Royal Brighton Yacht Club (RBYC).
It was at RBYC that the E22 Class Association of Australia was formed, on February 6, 1973, with Milledge the inaugural secretary.
Milledge was also one of eight guarantors to finance the importation of Skip Etchells’ moulds from Connecticut, USA, the moulds to build hulls arrived in Australia in October 1973.
Etchells now sail in 13 fleets across Australia, and around 50 fleets worldwide.
On October 8, the Corinthian trophy was renamed the Alexander Milledge Etchells Corinthian Trophy, from a motion put up to IECAA by Metung Yacht Club, with unanimous endorsement from the Etchells fleet captains across Australia.
Metung Yacht Club (MYC) has previously hosted the Australian Etchells Championship, in March 2022, on Lake King and also hosted the International Etchells Class 2024 Victorian Championship in January.
Entry numbers are building for the regatta, with Milledge’s widow, Sue and their family, along with Henke and Miles all expected to be in attendance at event.
The Alexander Milledge Etchells Corinthian Trophy will be presented by Sue Milledge to the yacht, skipper and crew in the World Sailing Classification Category 1, at the end of the regatta on November 5.
