Ullswater Preservation Society Trophy, August 29

Published 11:12 on 31 Aug 2022

Seventeen sailors took part in one of Ullswater Yacht Club's oldest trophy races, the annual Ullswater Preservation Society event on Monday, August 29.
Traditionally held every August Bank Holiday Monday, the one-day event is for a trophy donated to the club in 1969 by the Ullswater Preservation Society.
Four short races were planned for the day, an All Class Handicap in which all types of boat take part together. The full range of boats sailed at the club were on the start line from juniors in their single-handers to dinghies, keelboats and cruisers.
While the turn-out was excellent, the weather was not so co-operative. The fickle easterly made setting a course tricky for the race officers. A simple course was set in front of the clubhouse and the races were shortened for everyone after around 30 minutes.
Race one was won on handicap by Keith Lockey and Paul Adams in a VXOne with John Lyons in a ILCA 7 second and junior sailor Olivia Dembinska third in her Tera Pro. After a quick turnaround, the racers were off again for race two with the same simple course and the same fluctuating winds.
This time the singlehanders had the edge with John Lyons taking a first, Andy Cutting in a Vareo second and Phil Noak in another ILCA 7 third.
There was a break for lunch and with two more races and three to count, the event was still wide open. John Lyons took another first and clinched the event with a 2,1,1. A first in the final fourth race by Andy Cutting gave him second place overall and a second brought daughter and father team Emily and Ray Stiles in a Flying Fifteen up the rankings into third place overall.
The Ullswater Preservation Society was founded in the 1930s to protect and preserve the Ullswater valley and became involved in the campaign in the early 1960s to prevent the lake from becoming a reservoir. The Society's 'Hands Off Ullswater' protest organised a petition of more 500,000 signatures a remarkable achievement remembering that there was no social media, internet or emails.
After Lord Norman Birkett's famous speech in the House of Lords in 1962 the plan was defeated and the Society, which had the support of many members of Ullswater Yacht Club, began to focus on a campaign against water skiing and powerboats on the lake. This was a debate that was set to continue for many years until a 10mph limit was imposed on the lake in the late 1980s.
The Ullswater Preservation Society Trophy has now been raced at the club every August Bank Holiday Monday for 53 years and illustrates the club's commitment to the protection of the beautiful lake that all sailors enjoy.
Results:
1. John Lyons, ILCA, 4 points
2. Andy Cutting, Vareo, 5 points
3. Emily & Ray Stiles, Flying Fifteen, 13 points
- Sue Giles

Last updated 19:16 on 15 April 2024