Captain Tom 100 Marks Challenge at Ullswater Yacht Club
by Sue Giles 4 May 08:10 PDT
1-2 May 2021
UYC 100 Marks Challenge Junior Training on May 1 © Sue Giles
Members of Ullswater Yacht Club launched into the national Captain Tom 100 Challenge over the Bank Holiday weekend by sailing round as many marks on the lake as they could - and were delighted at the final total of 694.
The sailors joined the event to celebrate what would have been Captain Tom Moore's 101st birthday on April 30 with their own 100 Marks Challenge, aiming to sail round 100 marks on Saturday, May 1 and Sunday, May 2, raising funds for the Calvert Trust Lake District at the same time.
It was a very busy weekend and club members of all ages got involved, clocking up 226 mark roundings on the Saturday and 468 on the Sunday.
The number of marks rounded by all members taking part in the sailing programme over the weekend were added to the 100 Marks Challenge tally for each day. Saturday May 1, was a day of light winds but there was so much going on - including youth and junior training and racing, the first 2021 meeting of the Ladies Who Launch and Blokes in Boats groups as well as the regular All Class Handicap racing that the count soon rose above the 100. Club members enjoying paddleboarding also added some mark rounding to the score. By the end of the day the final number of marks was 226.
Sunday, May 2 was another busy day on the water but with more wind. The cruisers took part in the annual President's Trophy long distance race to an island at the Southern end of the lake and back and three different racing fleets competed in three races. Sunday's final score was 468.
Club Vice Commodore Brian Moreton said: "It was very good to see so many members enjoying their sailing as well as taking part in the 100 Marks Challenge over the two days."
He said a special thanks to the Stiles family, Ray and Elizabeth and their daughter Emily who were race officers all weekend.
"They truly got behind the idea and set courses to maximise the number of marks. Even the President's Trophy, a classic Island Race for cruisers included two extra marks."
Donations to the Calvert Trust Lake District, a charity that provides outdoor adventure holidays for people with disabilities which is supported by UYC, came to a total of £202 - Captain Tom's 101st birthday times two.
Family-friendly Ullswater Yacht Club, on the North-east shore of the lake between Pooley Bridge and Howtown with scenic waterside frontage, welcomes new members of all ages. Visit ullswateryachtclub.org for details.