RS400 Trident UK Northern Tour at the Lord Birkett Memorial Trophy

64th Lord Birkett Memorial Trophy © Paul Hargreaves Photography

The third leg of the 2026 Trident UK RS400 Northern Tour was held at the annual Lord Birkett Memorial Trophy at Ullswater Yacht Club. Whilst the one long race a day over two days may not be everyone's cup of tea, twenty-three RS400s from as far field as Hayling Island and Aberdeen and Stonehaven joined more than 200 boats on the start line for the two-race series.

The sheer number of boats on the start line and the spectacular scenery makes the event uniquely special. This was helped with the perfect wind direction down the lake resulting in a 6-mile beat to Norfolk Island, a 7-mile run to Pooley Bridge and a quick final beat of just a mile back to the finish.

One of the great traits of the RS400 fleet is their commitment to having a good time, without letting the prospect of sailing the next day get in the way. Many competitors were still taking on liquid calories on the wrong side of 1am on Saturday morning.

When the morning did arrive, the wind was blowing and luckily for many the sun wasn't shining too brightly.

After 4 attempted starts the fleet got away in a gusty F4/F5 breeze. Lord Birkett virgins, Alastair Rimmer and Ollie Brown (Bassenthwaite SC) showed no respect for their elders or the more experienced and quickly hit the front of the fleet, with former overall Lord Birkett winner Alistair Coates and daughter Evie (Leigh and Lowton SC) in close pursuit. Behind them RS400 newcomers Jamie and Ben Tylecote (Rutland SC) were also showing the more 'mature' and experienced RS400 sailors how it should be done.

64th Lord Birkett Memorial Trophy - photo © Paul Hargreaves Photography

In usual Lord Birkett fashion, the wind fluctuated between not a lot and at times too much, creating some good old fashioned snakes and ladders sailing. As the fleet progressed towards the top of the lake, Lord Birkett veterans, Dave Exley with Dee Osmond (Leigh and Lowton SC), Richard and Heather Marsh (Hollingworth Lake SC), Hamish Gledhill and Ross Southwell (West Riding SC), and Jacob Ainsworth and Philip Cowans (Tynemouth SC) pulled out from the chasing pack to put pressure on the leading group of three.

After rounding the windward mark (aka Norfolk Island) the 7-mile downwind ride began with planing conditions almost the length of the lake. Alistair and Ollie suddenly realised that the long run was going to be a frustrating affair as their starboard wing-wang line came undone. There was to be a full inquest that evening! Whilst able to complete the course it would affect their off-wind performance allowing Hamish and Ross to overtake them early on the run. Dave and Dee sailed into the one corner of the lake where the wind failed to blow, leaving them drifting whilst boat after boat passed them. Jacob and Philip followed Dave and Dee into the same windless corner with the same frustrating effect.

At the front Alistair and Evie extended their lead to finish with a commanding lead, leaving Jamie and Ben with a fight to stay ahead of Hamish and Ross. Heather and Richard as usual looked calm and in control to finish fourth, with Alastair and Ollie finishing fifth.

64th Lord Birkett Memorial Trophy - photo © Paul Hargreaves Photography

In the evening rather than any early nights, half the fleet hit the beer tent at the sailing club, whilst the other half attended Alistair Coates's surprise birthday party. It would be rude to say which special birthday it was. In a corner of the beer garden the inquest into the loose wing-wang line took place to find that it was Ollie's Dad, former RS400 National Champ and legendary crew, Richard Brown who was to blame. Unfortunately, Richard wasn't there to defend himself!

Sunday morning's drizzle soon stopped, and the fleet launched with a lighter but still decent F3 breeze, that was still blowing in the right direction. After several recalls the fleet got away. Unfortunately, Dave and Dee were pushing the favoured port end so much they hit the ground snapping their rudder downhaul which required a quick pit stop on the shore. Several other RS400s were embroiled in a raft of boats that took some untangling.

After the dramas of the start settled down it was Alistair and Evie who were again at the front of the fleet. This time they were being chased hard by John Reekie and son James (Bassenthwaite SC). Phil Davenport and Robin Dawson (Bassenthwaite SC) and Stuart Halman and Anna Walsh (Leigh and Lowton SC) were the pursuing boats.

64th Lord Birkett Memorial Trophy - photo © Paul Hargreaves Photography

As the fleet approached the Island, Hamish and Ross, along with Richard and Heather and Alistair and Ollie had pulled ahead of the chasing pack to put pressure on the leaders. As they rounded the Island, Hamish and Ross pulled out a narrow lead ahead of Alastair and Ollie and John and James. After several lead changes between the three boats it was John and James who hooked into the defining gust and then sailed an impeccable run to pull out an unassailable lead. Hamish and Ross exchanged gybes with Alastair and Ollie, before they eventually built a comfortable cushion to finish second, with Alistair and Ollie in third just ahead of Stuart and Anna in fourth.

Hamish and Ross's consistency over the two days gave them the win in the RS400s and 5th overall ahead of Alastair and Ollie with 10th overall. The close racing in the RS400 fleet was reflected by the fact that Alistair and Evie, then Richard and Heather and John with James finished 11th, 12th and 13th overall, with James and Ben a few places behind in 16th.

I can't imagine any of the RS400 sailors sat up to watch the football, but at work the following day most of them appeared more tired than those that stayed up to watch the drama unfold at the Azteca Stadium. I'm sure the sailors had more fun!

Overall Results: