AN 'INSPIRATIONAL' sailor from Otley has finally hung up her lifejacket - at the age of 86.

Stella Murdoch joined Otley Sailing Club in the 1970s and has been competing (and frequently winning) ever since.

A well known figure around town, where she has been heavily involved with Otley and District Talking Newspaper*, Mrs Murdoch was made the club's Commodore in 2002.

A club spokesman said: "Stella has been a fiercely competitive racer over many years and has turned out in all weathers, at times beating her much younger counterparts.

"She has regularly taken away various trophies at our annual prize-giving event each March.

"She joined the club in the late 1970s and has served time on the committee, as well as holding the office of Commodore between 2002 and 2004.

"Stella has been an inspiration to anyone who knew her at the club and put a lot of the younger members to shame.

"We would like to wish her all the very best and hope we will still see her at our many social events throughout the year.

"She will certainly be sorely missed on the start line."

*Mrs Murdoch was chairman for the Talking Newspaper group, which makes audio recordings of the local news and delivers them to blind or partially sighted residents, for nearly quarter of a century.