Rotters and Colanders
by Mark Jardine 28 Apr 18:00 BST
Back to School ROTTERs at Ripon Sailing Club © John Young
In these times it's all too easy to fall back on old adages about sailing, saying the costs are too high, it's elitist and things are in decline. For sure there are areas of our sport which are suffering, and the cost of living crisis, combined with the obvious global concerns and pressures, don't make things easy, but there are some incredible bright spots which blow preconceptions about sailing out of the water, and they can be found in unlikely places.
Ripon Sailing Club is located on a 75-acre lake near Knaresborough, North Yorkshire, around 20 miles north of Leeds. It's a family-friendly club with both Wednesday evening racing, or the afternoons during winter when the weather allows, and Sundays all year round, and Saturday racing aimed at improvers during the summer months. Two university sailing clubs (Leeds and York) also use the water, and there's a thriving radio controlled yachting fleet using Dragon Force 65s at the club (read my 'On the right wavelength' article to learn more about the rise of radio sailing).
They also have a growing junior and youth scene known as the 'Rotters'. The name comes from a sign at the gate to Ripon Sailing Club which says 'No Otters Allowed'. The lake is also used for fishing, and of course the fishers aren't fans of creatures which steal their catch. The kids of course point out that, to the best of their knowledge, otters can't read, which causes much amusement. So the Rotters name itself is an almost acronym/portmanteau of Ripon, Optimist, Topper and Tera, with a local joke thrown in.
Their programme came to my attention when Lucy Priest sent in reports of their activities, and I was particularly interested in their 'Bring a Buddy' days. It seemed to me the ideal way of increasing sailing participation in one of the friendliest and easiest ways.
"It was led by the kids really. Those already sailing at Ripon were telling their friends about it, and they were naturally interested as they were so enthusiastic about it, and wanted to come and give it a go. We decided we couldn't do this on an ad-hoc basis, so this year assigned two of our sessions to be Bring a Buddy days. The first one on 18th April was a huge success, and we've just had our open day where families came to take a look at the club, then our second buddy day is scheduled for 18th May," said Lucy.
The juniors and youth sail all year round, and numbers have gone up significantly over recent years, to the point where Lucy is starting to encourage many of the race-ready sailors to go and take part in suitable local events on dates when the club has limited resources. The club is only allowed a certain number of powerboats on the lake, so they have to think carefully about when to run the sessions, and what local events their racing sailors can go and attend. As Lucy says though, it's a 'fantastic problem to have'.
Getting kids on the water for the first time, or helping those who'd tried it once on holiday, reveals it can be daunting for them. By doing it with one of their mates, the first barrier is removed, and the positive side of peer pressure can kick in to overcome nerves. Sailing with a friend can give them confidence, and being part of a group makes it easier for the volunteers running the session, as those with experience can help the new sailors find equipment, rig and generally get to know the ropes.
With this provision, the club has attracted many parents who used to sail, but may have stopped in their late teens or early 20s. As well as getting their own kids out on the water, they have revived their own love of the sport, and taken part in powerboat and safety training, meaning the club has a growing army of volunteers for the Rotters sessions.
This benefits the club in many ways, with increased membership and activity, helping the galley and bar, while also fuelling that buzz which leads to more existing members using the facilities. A truly virtuous circle.
The club holds regular events, such as the Midsummer Medley with the Midsummer Rotters as part of it on 11th July with a 9-5 relay race, sailing games, coaching and a barbecue evening social. Team sizes can range between 3 and 8, changing crew on the jetties at intervals, with local clubs invited to take part, including the Scouts and Sea Cadets. So much of sailing is about building the community, which Ripon Sailing Club has recognised so well.
"It's intended to be fun as well as competitive, and to allow less experienced sailors to get some racing in and also hopefully get some tips, tricks and general information from their team mates," said Lucy.
The club has a small field with goal posts set up and camping on site during the summer months, adding to the friendly feel and making it convenient for families to access the water. All-in-all, it's a success story playing out, and other clubs can learn from Ripon, adapting for their own needs and circumstances.
Moving south around 140 miles to Northampton Sailing Club, the weekend of 9th and 10th May sees the second running of the Colander Cup. As with all good ideas, the event was dreamt up in the bar over a pint by Fresh Abendstern and Isaac Marsh who initially wanted to do a Top Gear-style challenge, going to events like the Lord Birkett Trophy at Ullswater in the Lake District in a budget boat.
The idea soon expanded into the inaugural Colander Cup, with anyone able to compete, as long as their boat cost £300 or less. Fresh himself competed in a Laser 2 which cost him £107 on ebay, and a novel format was devised, including four sprint races and a double point, non-discardable, long distance race, complete with Le Mans start from the clubhouse veranda.
"It's a celebration of everything that's good about our sport, with camping on-site, the bar open until late, and last year we ordered in a take-away in the evening. On Sunday we have the 'Colander Cruise', which takes in stops like the ice cream van at the far end of the lake. We've introduced a 'Tea Strainer' trophy for the first junior, and have a slightly shorter version of the long distance race for them," said Isaac.
The event attracts a mix of sailors, from national champions to newbies, and the relaxed atmosphere encourages chat which helps experienced sailors understand the challenges of getting into sailing, while those new to the sport can learn from those at the top end.
Thanks to inflation, the budget cap has extended to £313.51 in 2026 with club charter boats also available. Fresh this year will be sailing in a 49er which he found on ebay for £120, and amazingly could be one of two budget 49ers at the event.
All are welcome, be that in a competing or spectating capacity!
Overall, the Rotters at Ripon Sailing Club and the Colander Cup at Northampton Sailing Club prove that sailing can be accessible, affordable and enjoyable for all. We should all be encouraging initiatives like these as, the more people we have involved in sailing, the better it is for everyone competing and for the marine industry itself.
Everybody starts somewhere in the sport, and one of the Rotters could go on to Olympic glory, and someone competing in the Colander Cup could go on to buy their dream yacht.
Mark Jardine
Sail-World.com and YachtsandYachting.com Managing Editor