Sell-Out 64th Lord Birkett Memorial Trophy Delivers Another Unforgettable Weekend on Ullswater
by Jack Allan, UYC General Manager 6 Jul 13:22 BST
4-5 July 2026
64th Lord Birkett Memorial Trophy © Tim Olin /
www.olinphoto.co.uk
The 64th Lord Birkett Memorial Trophy, sponsored by Magic Marine, has concluded after another spectacular weekend of sailing at Ullswater Yacht Club, with a record sell-out fleet, outstanding racing and a celebration of one of Britain's most iconic sailing events.
The event reached its maximum capacity of 230 entries in record time, underlining the ever-growing popularity of the Lord Birkett Memorial Trophy, which continues to attract sailors from across the United Kingdom to the Lake District each summer.
Saturday's opening race began in true Birkett fashion. Following several start attempts, the fleet finally got away to provide the spectacular sight that has become synonymous with the event as more than 200 boats headed south towards Norfolk Island.
Guests aboard the Birkett Steamer, operated by Ullswater 'Steamers', enjoyed a front-row view of the action, following the fleet as far as Birkett Crag before counting the symbolic 64th boat to pass, awarding the traditional Ullswater 'Steamers' Trophy while capturing breathtaking views of one of sailing's most unique starts.
The first boat home was the Ullswater Yacht Club 49er sailed by Matty Lyons and James Lyons. With varying wind strengths along the length of the lake, the fleet compressed dramatically, creating close racing throughout the field and an exciting finish as boats crossed the line in quick succession. Once corrected times had been calculated, impressive performances from throughout the fleet saw the Wayfarer sailed by Louise McKeand and Nigel Hall, together with junior sailor Marcia Shelley crewing a 2000, feature amongst the leading positions after the opening day.
Following Saturday's racing, competitors and visitors gathered to celebrate another important milestone in the event's history with the official opening of the newly named Norman Birkett Bar.
The ceremony was led by Ullswater Yacht Club President John Robinson, alongside special guests Victoria Cliff Hodges, granddaughter of Lord Norman Birkett, together with family members Marcus and Finn. The newly named bar celebrates the remarkable legacy of the man whose intervention helped preserve public access to Ullswater and whose name has become synonymous with one of Britain's premier sailing events. The venue now features heritage displays, historical photography and the Lord Birkett Memorial Trophy Roll of Honour, recognising every overall winner since the inaugural event in 1963.
Sunday morning brought damp conditions and a few weary faces following the previous evening's festivities, but enthusiasm for the final race remained undiminished. After a series of general recalls, the race eventually got under way under a Black Flag start before the fleet once again made its way the length of Ullswater in typically challenging and ever-changing conditions.
The Lyons brothers were once again first across the finish line in their 49er, closely pursued by fellow Ullswater Yacht Club sailors Jono Shelley and Graham Priestley in their International 14. As with the opening day, Ullswater's famously unpredictable winds reshuffled the corrected-time standings to produce another fascinating set of results.
Following two outstanding races, Matty Lyons and James Lyons secured overall victory in the 64th Lord Birkett Memorial Trophy, claiming the coveted title for an impressive third time. Second place went to Jono Shelley and Graham Priestley in their International 14, while Louise McKeand and Nigel Hall completed the podium in third aboard their Wayfarer.
Overall Results: (top ten)
1. Matty Lyons & James Lyons (49er) - Ullswater Yacht Club
2. Jono Shelley & Graham Priestley (International 14)
3. Louise McKeand & Nigel Hall (Wayfarer)
4. Eddy Reid & Neil Reid (Javelin)
5. Hamish Gledhill & Ross Southwell (RS400)
6. Richard Smith & Kathryn Partington-Smith (Javelin)
7. Andrew Peters & Jonny O'Connor (59er)
8. Justin Jones & Chris Anderson (Hartley Zenith II)
9. Michael Lennon & Dave Orrell (Scorpion)
10. Alastair Rimmer & Ollie Brown (RS400)
Full results can be found here.
Jack Allan, General Manager of Ullswater Yacht Club, said:
"What an incredible Lord Birkett Memorial Trophy weekend. Welcoming a record sell-out fleet to Ullswater and seeing two days of exceptional racing once again showed why this event is one of the highlights of the sailing calendar.
"Events of this scale are only possible thanks to our hundreds of dedicated volunteers, whose hard work before, during and after the weekend made the event such a success. We'd also like to thank our headline sponsor, Magic Marine, for their continued support, and our special guests Victoria Cliff Hodges, Marcus and Finn for officially opening the Norman Birkett Bar and helping celebrate Lord Norman Birkett's remarkable legacy.
"We hope everyone who joined us had a fantastic weekend, and we look forward to welcoming competitors, volunteers and visitors back to Ullswater for the 65th Lord Birkett Memorial Trophy in 2027."
The Lord Birkett Memorial Trophy remains one of the UK's largest inland sailing events, bringing together sailors representing more than 40 classes from clubs across the country. Alongside the highly competitive racing, the event continues to be renowned for its unique social atmosphere, creating a festival of sailing where lifelong friendships are renewed both afloat and ashore.
Planning is already under way for the 65th Lord Birkett Memorial Trophy, which will take place on 3-4 July 2027. Competitors are encouraged to save the date, with further details to be released on the Ullswater Yacht Club website in due course.
Ullswater Yacht Club, a couple of miles from Pooley Bridge on the road to Howtown welcomes new members of all ages and levels of ability. Visit ullswateryachtclub.org for more information