A sailing club in Upper Wharfedale was named as one of the best clubs in the country at an awards ceremony organised through the Royal Yachting Association.

The newly-renamed Yorkshire Dales Sailing Club, which has its base on the shores of Yorkshire’s largest reservoir – Grimwith – is also celebrating a newly- completed clubhouse, which cost £700,000 and took 13 years to come to fruition.

The club, formerly known as Grimwith Sailing Club, wants to dispel the myth that sailing is “only for posh people”.

It says the cost of hiring boats is as low as £2 an hour and adult membership, with unlimited access to the new facilities, from the equivalent of £2.50 a week.

The club was formed in Leeds in 1966 by a group of dinghy sailors. It was popular, but the site became overgrown and new waters had to be found. Grimwith Reservoir, near Hebden, with its moorland and open aspect, was ideal and the right to sail there was secured in 1995.

Two years later, the uphill battle to secure planning permission and raise money for a quality clubhouse began. In the interim, members made do with portable cabins and containers to change in and for storage. It was a long time to go without a shower, they say.

Eventually, a £245,000 grant from Sport England was secured and work started. The remaining funding came from club savings, a mortgage and other loans and grants.

Today, 13 years later, the new clubhouse boasts top-quality facilities, male, female and disabled changing rooms, walk-in-showers, a training room and office, as well as a large boat and vehicle store, large clubroom with a 180-degree view of the water, a galley and sheltered terrace.

For sailors and windsurfers, the open aspect of the water means usually favourable conditions.

The size and shape of the reservoir lends itself to both traditional “round the cans” racing and windward/leeward racing.

The club holds several open meetings throughout the year with class events for National 12, RS 200, Vortex, Topper, Mirror, RS500, RS800 and RS Vareo.

Twice a year the club holds windward/leeward events as well as the popular Equaliser, where the fastest sailors are given a handicap.

Other events include the Grimwith Grapple and Juniors Youth Cup.

The new facilities and growing success of the club were recognised when it was runner-up in the Royal Yachting Association’s Club of the Year 2010 competition. It was pipped to first spot by Exe Sailing Club, on the south coast.

The club’s commodore, Jonathan Lister, said: “Watersports are an excellent way for people of all ages to get fit and stay physically and mentally active and the construction of these new facilities will allow many new people in the area to take part in watersport as well as assist the development of those already taking part.”

More information about the club can be found on the Yorkshire Dales Sailing Club website at yorkshiredales.sc/