Competitive sailors from all over the region will be taking part in the Daffodil Regatta on the weekend of April 14 and 15, Ullswater Yacht Club’s first major event in its 60th anniversary year.

It all started in 1958 when friends Harold Couzens and Joe Harrison, who both enjoyed spending time on the lake, decided it would be a good idea for Ullswater to have its own club. They placed a newspaper advert on March 4, 1958, inviting anyone interested to write to them.

They were delighted with the response and eighty people turned up at the Queen’s Head, Tirril, on April 10, 1958, to officially form the Ullswater Motor Boat and Yacht Club.

The name was changed to Ullswater Yacht Club and it has developed over 60 years to become one of the premier sailing clubs in the country, winner of two Club of the Year Awards in 2017. This year, a special calendar of events will mark the club’s Diamond Year with the Daffodil Regatta the first big open weekend of the season.

The Daffodil Regatta is open to all classes with racing split into two fleets. All fleets will sail seven races over the weekend with four taking place on Saturday and three on Sunday. Club racers will be joined by visitors from all over the county and beyond and the event is featured in the RS200 and Musto Skiff Travellers Calendar.

Diane Hannah from sponsor Herdy said: “We’re really excited about the weekend of sailing and feel honoured to be asked to bring along Herdy to join in the fun. We’ve worked hard to create a brand with real values and it is important to us to give back to Herdy’s home as much as we can. Events like these are what Great British Herdy is made for and the kids just love him.”

UYC Commodore Rick Boyce added: “We are really looking forward to the first big event of our special year at UYC and delighted to welcome our first visitors.”

More details about the Daffodil Regatta and other events at UYC in 2018 can be found on the club website at www.ullswateryachtclub.org