Lord Birkett Memorial Trophy this weekend at Ullswater
by Sue Giles 2 Jul 2009 11:58 BST
4-5 July 2009
The annual long distance race on Ullswater in the Lake District for the highly-prized Lord Birkett Memorial Trophy takes place on July 4 and 5.
One of the most spectacular sailing events in the North, the Birkett, run by Ullswater Yacht Club was rated in number eight in the top 50 ‘must do’ sailing regattas by Yachts and Yachting.
The quest for the ‘Holy Grail’ of a Birkett win attracts keen sailors from national champions to novices from all over the country in a huge range of different boats all racing the full length of Ullswater and back on both days.
The unique race was established in 1963 to commemorate the successful defence of the right of public access to Ullswater which was threatened with reservoir status in the early 1960s. The Birkett is open to all monohulls with a recognised handicap rating and organisers expect the entries to be over 200 this year.
All boats, from the smallest dinghies to high performance racing machines and cruisers, race from one mass start with the line stretching across the full width of the lake.
They race down the lake, a distance of about seven miles, past Birkett Crag and the plaque to the memory of Lord Birkett who made the decision to stop the lake becoming a reservoir, round an island at the southern end, and back. Then they do it all again on Sunday – with both races to count.
For details visit www.ullswateryachtclub.org