A GLITTERING awards ceremony saw Royal Windermere Yacht Club bring the curtain down on a successful season in style.

During the season, club members across five different fleets of yachts competed for 175 prizes, with a further eight prizes awarded for special races.

“I have been proud to serve as Commodore this year, the third generation in my family to do so,” said the year’s sailing commodore Clare Houlihan.

“It has been a season of great contrasts, ranging from the most perfect weather conditions to periods of extreme weather.

"Our fleets have completed all their races here on Windermere, with some outstanding performances, and further afield, our sailors have competed at national and international level throughout the UK and Ireland.”

Helming a Flying Fifteen boat ‘Flying Ferret,’ Mrs Houlihan and husband Tony won the Hot Chestnut Trophy and Dove Nest Trophy.

Special mention was given to Nigel Tullett, who won 10 major prizes in the Windermere Class 17 Foot races in ‘Chameleon’ and also took the Prince of Wales Feathers in the Flying Fifteen class in ‘Niffty’ for the highest average points in the club for the entire season.

There was also praise for David Milburn,who took the Points Cup and Spray Trophy for the most improved results this season in ‘Pilgrim,’ Nick Aubrey and Roy Gambie, winners of the classic boats in the Windermere Class 17 Foot races in ‘Atholl,’ Julian Newman and Amanda Wilson who took the trophy for the highest points in the Flying Fifteen class in ‘Felix Felicis,’ and Adam Cowley, winner of the classic boats in the Flying Fifteens races in ‘Floozie.’

In addition, Nigel Hutchinson, winner of the Dinghy Handicap class in ‘UltraSONIC’ was awarded a special trophy for his work on adult training and Amanda Wilson in ‘Crackerjack’, John Pawson and Lisa Knaggs in ‘Horizon’, Harry and Ian Frith in ‘Second Chance’, and John and Robert Richardson in ‘Spirit’ also earned mentions as prize-winners in the GP 14 fleet as did Trevor Bonson for winning the Cruiser fleet prizes in Va Voom.

Mrs Houlihan will be succeeded as commodore by Amanda Wilson, an accomplished Flying Fifteen sailor who spearheads the youth training schemes.