Please select your home edition
Edition
Zhik 2023 May YY LEADERBOARD

Club goes back in time to celebrate the 60th Birkett

by Sue Giles 15 Jun 2022 10:53 BST 2-3 July 2022
The Ullswater foreshore in 1963 © Robin Steavenson

Ullswater Yacht Club is going back in time to celebrate its biggest event of the year, the 60th Lord Birkett Memorial Trophy on July 2 and 3.

The club has been looking at the history of the iconic event with memories and old photographs and has produced a special celebration booklet to be given to competitors and supporters.

The long distance event was established in 1963 honour of Lord Norman Birkett who died two days after making a successful speech in the House of Lords which prevented Ullswater from becoming a reservoir. Every year since then (except 2020), the club has held the prestigious two-day round-the-island race in memory of the 'Saviour of Ullswater.' To mark the 60th Birkett, as well as the 60th anniversary of the death of Lord Birkett, the booklet looks at how and why the event was established in the early days of Ullswater Yacht Club.

Sue Giles, who researched and wrote it said: "The story of the Birkett is also the story of the development of dinghy sailing from the 1960s to the 21st century. Boats in the first races were all wood, mainly with wooden masts and many were home built. But the challenge and magic of the event is the same as it ever was."

Sue pieced together details from local newspaper reports of the day and personal recollections of the sailors who were there. They included the memories of three times winner Howard Steavenson, whose father Robin was the winner of the first Birkett in 1963.

Robin was also a keen photographer and some of his stunning colour pictures of Ullswater from 1963 and 1964 are in the booklet, a marked contrast to the 'normal' black and white photographs of the day. In 1964 the wind was so light for the race that Robin took his camera on his International 14 with him.

One of the most spectacular sailing events in the North, the Birkett has won Cumbria Tourism's Event of the Year Award and was rated number eight in the top 50 'must do' sailing regattas by Yachts & Yachting magazine. On Saturday, they race down the lake, a distance of about seven miles, past Kailpot Crag and the plaque to the memory of Lord Birkett, round an island at the southern end, and back. Then they do it all again on Sunday - with both races to count.

Entries are filling up fast, the limit is 230 boats and the closing date is midnight on Sunday, June 26th, 2022. Booking for entry, camping/campervan places and catering is via the special Birkett website www.ullswaterycbirkett.org For queries email: The club is delighted to have Waitings, the civil engineering contractors and plant hire experts based near Penrith, as main sponsors. Also supporting the event are Ullswater 'Steamers' and Hire & Supplies of Dumfries, sponsors of the Birkett history booklet.

Non-racers can get a piece of the on-the-water action on a special three-hour Birkett Cruise organised by Ullswater 'Steamers'. Passengers on the exclusive charter will board at Pooley Bridge Pier at 12noon on Saturday, July 2, and the steamer will stand by off the UYC clubhouse so that they can experience the drama of the 1pm mass start by 230 boats on a line which stretches the full width of the lake. A UYC member will give a commentary as the steamer follows the fleet.

Book for the Birkett Cruise direct with the steamer company at www.ullswater-steamers.co.uk tel 01768 482229.

Related Articles

D-Zero Northern Championships at Ullswater
Zippy, everyone's favourite report-writing boat, popped in on the way to Largs Hello all, from Zippy the D-Zero, on tour for a double whammy of travellers events in the North. First up was Ullswater last weekend for the D-Zero Northerns. As a new venue on the D-Zero circuit, I was very excited to be packed up. Posted on 17 May
Lord Birkett Memorial Trophy preview
It's worth heading to Ullswater this July - enter online now This year it could be you - entries are now open for Ullswater Yacht Club's iconic long distance race, the Lord Birkett Memorial Trophy on July 1 and 2, 2023. Posted on 3 May
Musto Skiffs at the 2023 Daffodil Regatta
Ten helms race at Ullswater despite the uninspiring forecast Despite the slightly uninspiring forecast, 10 Musto Skiffs arrived at Ullswater for the 2023 Daffodil Regatta, with a couple of notable pre-entrants missing the event. Posted on 25 Apr
Ullswater Yacht Club Daffodil Regatta 2023
Challenging conditions for the bumper entry of 54 boats Ullswater Yacht Club's annual Daffodil Regatta on April 22 & 23 attracted a bumper entry of 54 boats, racing on a weekend which was full of challenging conditions. Posted on 25 Apr
Ullswater YC Daffodil Regatta preview
Wordsworth's favourite flower means the first open meeting of the season Ullswater YC launches into the 2023 racing season with its first Open, the Daffodil Regatta, on April 22 and 23. There'll be daffodils galore at the prize-giving as UYC joins in Ullswater's spring celebrations in praise of Wordsworth's favourite flower. Posted on 1 Apr
Busy 2023 Open racing programme at Ullswater
Seven major open events for visiting racers Ullswater Yacht Club launches into 2023 with a packed sailing programme for club members and seven major open events for visiting racers. Posted on 19 Feb
Ullswater Yacht Club Winter Series 2022
Six Sundays of great racing, from wild to drifting Thirty-five boats took part in the Ullswater Yacht Club Winter Series from October 30 to December 4, a total of 24 in the All Class Handicap fleet and 11 of the club's Youths & Juniors. Posted on 20 Dec 2022
Tempest Nationals and Northerns at Ullswater
Final race winners clinch title The Tempest National and Northern Championships were held as part of Keelboat Weekend at Ullswater Yacht Club on October 22 and 23. Posted on 25 Oct 2022
Ullswater Yacht Club Open Winter Series preview
Don't pack your boat away - Carry On Racing Carry On Racing - Ullswater Yacht Club's Open Winter Series starts on Sunday, October 30 and continues until Sunday, December 18. Posted on 17 Oct 2022
VOOM Ullswater Keelboat Weekend preview
Welcoming Tempests, Flying Fifteens, VXOnes and SB20s in 2 weeks Ullswater Yacht Club is putting the 'VOOM' into an open weekend of racing especially for keelboats on October 22 & 23. Posted on 8 Oct 2022