Windermere 17 ft Celebrate 120 Years: Fleet’s Anniversary Race

The Windermere 17 ft class celebrated 120 years with a sail past, race and party on Saturday, July 20. These beautiful yachts enjoy a fascinating history dating back to the inauguration of the class in 1904 when the Royal Windermere Yacht Club set up the class as a more accessible alternative to some bigger boats […]

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The Windermere 17 ft class celebrated 120 years with a sail past, race and party on Saturday, July 20.

These beautiful yachts enjoy a fascinating history dating back to the inauguration of the class in 1904 when the Royal Windermere Yacht Club set up the class as a more accessible alternative to some bigger boats racing on the lake.

Since then, this elegant restricted class has gone from strength to strength and is one of the few where modern designs compete against bona fide classics. Windermere 17 designers over the years include Alfred Mylne, Arthur Robb, Olin Stephens and Ian Howlett – plus local designer Percy Crossley. This is one of the few classes in the country where modern and classic designs race side by side to the same rule. There are special trophies for some of the older ‘classic’ boats in the fleet but, new or old, racing remains close, with the ability to read the tricky and often unpredictable wind shifts on the lake very important if you are going to gain the upper hand on the race course.

The 120th anniversary celebrations included a race, plus a sail past the club house by a big fleet decked in flags that included Merlin, the oldest surviving Windermere 17 which dates back to 1908. The celebration of sail was rounded off in the evening by a hog roast accompanied by a classic Lakeland downpour.

About the Royal Windermere Club

Founded in 1860, the Royal Windermere Yacht Club was set up to promote sailing on Windermere, England’s largest lake. This RYA recognised training centre runs course for all ages and abilities, and fleet racing in the warmer months.

The four racing fleets are:

• Windermere 17 ft (restricted class unique to the club, the first of which was built in 1904 and about 30 are still regularly sailed)
• Flying Fifteen
• Dinghy fleet comprising GP14s, RS400s, RS100s, Lasers and Solos.
• Cruisers of which they have an increasing number

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