2023 Yorkshire One Design Report
The year kicked off with the traditional class dinner in early February at the Tritton Inn, Sledmere. The event was well-attended, with almost all yacht owners and several additional guests present.
2023 marked the 125th Anniversary of the YOD fleet. Remarkably, of the 15 yachts built over the years, 8 participated in the club regatta, and 4 more still exist, with 3 of those still seaworthy.
The early season mirrored the frustrations of 2022, with inconsistent wind conditions. Despite this, Jesta, Joca, Iolanthe, Mona, Ditherumpop, and Yilt were all launched early, aiming to sail during the weekend of 1st and 2nd July. Although the wind was 20/25 knots gusting 30, the sea remained calm. Mona, Yilt, and Jesta set off from the pontoons, but Mona quickly turned back after leaving the harbour. Yilt and Jesta ventured further but soon returned, with Jesta suffering a blown-out mainsail luff. However, the sailing supper in the club that evening was well-attended. Unfortunately, poor conditions and high winds thwarted any further outings before the regatta.
The Regatta began with high winds, causing the cadet and ladies' races to be postponed. During the first race, Joca's mast failed, necessitating a tow back to shore. Fortunately, the YOD community rallied, and a replacement mast was found, allowing Joca to continue racing later in the week. The weather improved, with steady N to NW winds of 10 knots gusting 15. However, Thursday was lost to calm conditions. Yilt hosted a pontoon party, making good use of the day.
Competition within the class was fierce, with tightly contested start lines. Some races were decided by the penalty for jumping the start and performing a 360-degree turn. Blackie emerged as the top performer with 6 wins from 10 races, followed by Iolanthe with 2 wins, and Patience and Jesta with 1 win each. Yilt secured the most second and third places, with 4 and 3 respectively.
The Regatta Cocktail Party and Ball, the two main social events, celebrated the 125th Anniversary of the class. The Cocktail Party reunited all surviving former owners of a Yorkshire One Design and current crews, renewing old friendships and reviving memories.
After the regatta, Mona and Ditherumpop continued to sail, but poor weather again prevented them from competing in the final race of the season.
Looking ahead to 2024, we hope for more favourable early-season weather. Mona, Jesta, Ditherumpop, and hopefully a few more YODs plan to sail before the regatta. Additionally, Blackie earned the best performance by any yacht across all classes, winning the Commodore's Rose Bowl.
We eagerly anticipate another exciting and competitive year for the YOD fleet.
Last updated 3:33pm on 8 July 2024
