Lord Birkett Memorial Trophy entries now open
by Sue Giles 26 May 2013 11:52 BST
6-7 July 2013
Tom Birkett at the Birkett plaque on Kailpot Crag in 2012 © Pauline Thompson
This year it could be you... entries are now open for the Lord Birkett Memorial Trophy at Ullswater Yacht Club over the weekend of July 6 and 7 – and you can enter online.
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.
One of the most spectacular sailing events in the North, the Birkett was rated number eight in the top 50 'must do' sailing regattas by Yachts and Yachting magazine. The unique race was first sailed in 1963 to commemorate the successful defence by Lord Norman Birkett of the right of public access to Ullswater which was threatened with reservoir status.
The Birkett is open to all monohulls with a recognised handicap rating and organisers expect the entries to be over 200. 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 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.
This year for the first time competitors can enter online - making it even easier to take part in the 51st Birkett on the Lake District's most beautiful lake. Just visit the club's website at www.ullswateryachtclub.org and follow the links to the SailRacer site.
Last year Ullswater Yacht Club pulled out all the stops to make the 50th Birkett a truly memorial event - and it was. It was won by a woman helm for the first time, Judy Armstrong of Scaling Dam SC; 25 past winners, including the winning crew from the first Birkett in 1963 Ewen Stamp, got together at a special celebration reception; a trip on the Ullswater 'Steamer' the MV Raven was held on the Saturday for spectators and Tom Birkett, grandson of Lord Norman Birkett was there to present the prizes.
MV Raven will again be taking part on Saturday, July 6. The cruise will leave Pooley Bridge pier and follow the racing down to Kailpot Crag where the Lord Birkett memorial plaque is placed and will again have an on-board commentary from members of UYC. The cruise was extremely popular last year. Families and friends were able, for the first time, to follow the racing at close hand on the water and experience some of the excitement. Please book direct with Ullswater Steamers via their website www.ullswater-steamers.co.uk
The 'Birkett' field next to the club will again be in use for camping and for the popular beer tent where there will be two live bands over the weekend.
UYC is on the North-east shore of the lake about two miles from Pooley Bridge on the Howtown road. For more information about the Birkett visit the UYC website or email