Musto Skiffs at the Lord Birkett Memorial Trophy at Ullswater

210 boats enter the 2014 Lord Birkett Trophy race at Ullswater © Sailracer

2 long distance windward leeward races, the length of Lake Ullswater, with an island for the windward mark. After Saturday's race the shore chat was about the close interclass battles, on Sunday it changed to "Who's won?"

This year attracted a bumper entry of 210 boats, Ullswater Yacht Club hosted this popular summer sailing event, testing endurance, boat speed across fluctuating wind speeds and directions, large fleet starting skills and boat on boat skills.

10- 14 knots of breeze on Saturday was perfect skiff racing conditions, the MPS accelerated off the start and popped out into clean wind. Richard and Kit Stenhouse were leading the MPS charge, enjoying close racing through "the narrows", a notorious tricky section of the course, and good boat speed. Richard then locked into favourable windshifts and benefitted from sharper boat handling to be the leading Musto skiff round the island. Kit was caught by the pack of Musto Skiffs. The pack had fun boat on boat tactics up and downwind as the wind changed speed and direction.

The local 49ers of Matty & James Lyons and Lester Noble & John McAfee exchanged the lead 7 times during the race, completing the 12 mile course, down and up the lake, in around 90 minutes - some 15 minutes ahead of third finisher Richard Stenhouse.

The event spectators on board the Ullswater Lake Steamer loved watching Saturdays race and the sailing skills that were clearly visible from such a great viewing platform. Once corrected times had been crunched, the overnight leaders were mainly trapezing skiffs, the top 10 boats were a clean sweep of Ovington Boats, an impressive builder's title. Six Musto skiffs were placed in the top 10, R. Stenhouse 3rd D. Noble 5th, J. Shelly 6th, K. Stenhouse 7th, S. Keegan 8th and G. Priestley 10th, a great first day for the class.

On Sunday in 2- 8 knots of breeze, the RS400's shot forward out of the start and gained during the first tack. The slower handicap boats made the most of the conditions, light winds and 200 boats on the first beat. The Firefly helmed by Steve Tylecote, demonstrated fine light weather skills to be ahead of most of the Musto Skiffs after the narrows. Overnight leaders in their 49er, the Lyons brothers, managed to break clear of the fleet after 10 minutes of upwind sailing, but took an extra hour to complete the course compared to Saturday's race. Richard was the leading MPS to the island and sailed well downwind to be third boat on the water.

With skies darkening and the wind increasing mid race, the slower boats gained, then revelled in the conditions as the wind shifted, freeing a group of boats to reach from the leeward mark, instead of beating to the finish line in front of the clubhouse. The Wayfarer sailed by Charles & David Chandler took the race win on corrected time from the Firefly of Steve & Ben Tylecote.

At the prize giving the atmosphere was tense as the top 3 overall results were announced. Richard Stenhouse was awarded second place, the RS400 of Chris Pickles & Matthew Sharman won the 2014 Lord Birkett Trophy by a point and were presented with a Garmin VIRB Elite action camera. Richard attributed his 2nd place to two awesome starts. Winning the Lord Birkett Trophy still eludes the class.

Local Musto Skiff sailor, Dylan Noble won a Garmin VIRB Elite action camera in the pre event prize draw. Dylan was excited to get some great on board footage on Saturday as he sailed to a 5th place. "An awesome prize".

Several Musto skiffs were tracked with a GPS on both days by SailRacer.

Podium and MPS results (with previous MPS helms included for interest)

1. RS400, Chris PICKLES & Matthew SHARMAN, Delph SC, 11 5
2. MUSTO SKIFF, 442 Richard STENHOUSE, Rutland Sailing Club, 3 14
3. 49ER, Matty LYONS James LYONS, Ullswater Yacht Club, 1 18

13. MUSTO SKIFF, 253 Graham PRIESTLEY, Ullswater Yacht Club, 10 41
24. FIREFLY, Steve TYLECOTE & Ben TYLECOTE, Rutland Sailing Club, 65 2
46. MUSTO SKIFF, 448 Dylan NOBLE, Ullswater Yacht Club, 5 97
48. RS800, Martin BOATMAN & Andy BROWN, South Shields SC, 18 85
51. MUSTO SKIFF, 369 Kit STENHOUSE, Rutland Sailing Club, 7 103
55. MUSTO SKIFF, 435 Jono SHELLEY, Ullswater Yacht Club, 6 106.5
60. MUSTO SKIFF, 384 Stuart KEEGAN, Derwent Resevoir, 8 109
70. MUSTO SKIFF, 481 Josh MORAN, Ullswater Yacht Club, 22 129
98. INTERNATIONAL 14, Graeme OLIVER & Steve ROBSON, 45.5 155