ULLSWATER Yacht Club have been named RYA Club of the Year at the RYA Suzuki Dinghy Show where the awards were presented by the British Sailing Team’s Ben Saxton.

Beating off stiff competition, the Lake District club were selected as the overall winner by the RYA Awards Panel and were specifically recognised for their efforts in increasing participation.

Having started 2016 deep in flood water, the club members rallied together making a huge effort to get up and running for the start of the season.

Successful marketing and publicity made sure the club was more visible than ever, attracting new members and novice sailors to taster sessions, sailing courses and children’s summer clubs and activities. Ullswater YC also ran an ‘I am Team GB’ event which saw over 1000 people get out on the water.

David Clarke, Ullswater YC said: “It’s just fantastic. All the work that our volunteers have done from the club house being built, to the taster sessions and so many visitors at the ‘I am Team GB’ event –this is the icing on the cake.”

New for 2017, all five shortlisted clubs were recognised for their achievements across five brand new categories; Increasing Participation, Innovation, Communication, Inclusivity and Facility Development.

The Innovation Award was presented to the Heart of England Offshore Cruising Association which enables people in the Midlands who love sailing offshore, to stay connected to their passion despite living so far from the sea. The club organises charters and ‘shared cost cruising’ to make offshore sailing more accessible. It also offers a wide variety of yacht racing, training and social opportunities.

Find more information about the award and the all the finalists can be found at www.rya.org.uk/go/cluboftheyear