T37 RC Model Yachts
T37 RC model yachts built from kits at the Lorne Mens Shed and sailed on the Erskine River - David Lawler.
The winds on the infamous Erskine River can be quite treacherous for the T37 RC (radio controlled) yachts. Winds can vary from being in the doldrums to the roaring forties. Seasoned yachties battle these conditions with incredible skill. Well, luck can also help. The skippers can only control the rudders, the trim of the jib and mainsail. The mainsail can be trimmed from a ninety per cent angle to almost parallel to the yacht, depending on the direction of the wind relative to the next mark. This is the where the skill comes in.
Close racing during the Easter 2025 T37 RC Model Yacht Regatta on the picturesque Erskine River. From left to right, the skippers are Roger Nelson, Tony Wolfenden, Bob Sinclair, Neil Verral, Rod Van Ingen, Tom Nelson and the author, David Lawler. Other T37 skippers include well known Lorne identities, John Barber and John Bliss.
Constructed At Lorne Men’s Shed
Our T37 model yachts are bought from Will Lesh of Tippecanoe and arrive in kit form at the Lorne Mens Shed. We use hand tools, clamps, drills, epoxy, heat guns, lots of measuring, blue painters tape and a considerable amount of patience. The instruction manual is 83 pages long. Construction times vary considerably. Will Lesh measures his time in days. My yacht, Smuggler, took about four months. Of course, there are a couple of Mens Shed members who have spent years on their yachts, and they are still unfinished. I am too polite to mention names. He built the first T37 in Lorne in 2013. He then encouraged the Mens Shed to buy and construct a further seven with his considerable help. Sponsors included The Lorne Independent, Foodworks and GD Constructions. Mens Shed members also contributed funds for the construction of Magpie and Love Lorne.
There are about 3,000 T37 RC yachts sailing around the world, with the bulk in Northern America. At the last Easter Regatta, we had thirteen T37 yachts racing on the Erskine River. A further four T37s have started construction. These are being built by Brian Tickell, David Worth, John Russel and Tom Tan. We are always looking for more T37s to add to our fleet. Contact the Mens Shed if you would like to build one.
Click to view the Easter Regatta
I have set up a YouTube channel for our yacht races. If any one is interested, go to YouTube and search “Lorne Mens Shed”.
The next T37 regatta will be on November 9, 2025 at 10AM.
Ed Note: The number of regattas is increasing. The Lorne Independent Newspaper will sponsor a Perpetual Trophy for one of these Regattas. There is a rumour it might be when those other Cups are being won. Not long now!