Trophy donated for a Winter Series Pursuit Start event instigated by Commodore Les. A. Nangle (commodore 1968 – 1970) in his wife’s name, open to all keel boats on the register of any yacht club. It initially had traditional ties with the football, when Geelong played Collingwood at Geelong and the yachts raced to Geelong where, after the race, crews watched the latter stages of the game.

The first event was held July 30, 1971 in atrocious conditions. It was won by Lyle Turnbull with Halcyon II, the original skippers and crews being given polar bear badges to wear in honour of being the first ‘Long Distance Frostbiters’. Another first for the Royal Melbourne Yacht Squadron. Interestingly, Lyle Turnball established the return race from Geelong in his wife’s name, now the Jeanette Turnball Perpetual Trophy.

It was not until Winter 1973 that the trophy was donated. This was first won by W. Brown with Wendy. Following a grant, the trophy became perpetual in May 1980. In the early 2000s, the trophy was contested for in accordance with V.Y.C. handicap system over a long distance course, later to revert back to its original format to Geelong.