Leeds 400-lap sailing challenge at Yeadon Tarn

Leeds residents are being invited to take part in a 400-lap challenge at Yeadon Tarn as Leeds Sailing and Activity Centre marks two milestones on Saturday, June 6.

The Leeds Sailing and Activity Centre Open Day and 400 Laps Challenge runs from 9am to 1pm at Leeds Sailing and Activity Centre, Yeadon Tarn. The source notice does not specify a price. Sessions for water activities are bookable in advance online through Leeds Sailing and Activity Centre | Active Leeds.

The event is aimed at local people and adventure seekers who want to help the centre count up 400 laps of the tarn, either on the water or on foot. Qualified instructors will be available for those who want to try getting safely out on the water.

Open day details at Yeadon Tarn

The challenge is part of the city-wide What’s Your 400? campaign, which asks people across Leeds to create activities, events or challenges linked to the number 400.

At Yeadon Tarn, the centre team has chosen a challenge that fits the setting: completing 400 laps of the water and surrounding area during the open day. Participants can contribute by sailing, kayaking or paddleboarding, or by walking laps on foot.

Why the challenge is happening this Saturday

The open day marks 20 years since Leeds Sailing and Activity Centre first opened at Yeadon Tarn. Over the past two decades, the centre has introduced thousands of visitors to water sports including sailing and paddleboarding, as well as outdoor activities such as orienteering and off-road biking.

The 400-lap idea was sparked by research carried out by outdoor activities coach Toby Cade, according to the council notice.

The timing also connects the centre’s anniversary with Leeds 400, the programme commemorating 400 years since Leeds received its first City Charter from King Charles I in 1626.

Adam-Peter Gair, outdoor activities manager at the centre, said the team was proud to have been open for 20 years and to have given so many people the chance to get active on the water in Leeds.

“The team thought it was only right that we mark the centre’s anniversary and play our part in celebrating What’s Your 400? in our own way,” he said.

How residents can take part

People attending the open day can add to the lap total in several ways. On the water, the source notice lists sailing, kayaking and paddleboarding as options. On land, participants can complete laps on foot.

The centre will count every lap completed between the doors opening at 9am and the end of the open day at 1pm.

For those who want to get on the water, the notice says qualified instructors will be on hand. It also states that sessions are bookable in advance online through Leeds Sailing and Activity Centre | Active Leeds.

The source does not list accessibility arrangements, food stalls, parking details or a confirmed entry fee, so attendees should rely on the centre’s booking information for any extra practical requirements before travelling.

Part of the wider Leeds 400 programme

The What’s Your 400? campaign was launched earlier in 2026 as part of Leeds 400. It invites people in the city to showcase local communities through challenges and activities themed around the number 400.

The council notice gives examples ranging from walking, running and cycling to baking, volunteering, dancing and painting. Participants are asked to share their efforts on social media using #WhatsYour400 and can download a certificate online to mark the challenge.

Councillor Salma Arif, Leeds City Council’s executive member for economy, said it was inspiring to see people across the city getting into the spirit of Leeds 400 and commemorating the landmark year in their own way.

Anyone planning to join the Yeadon Tarn open day should note the confirmed window: Saturday, June 6, 2026, from 9am to 1pm at Leeds Sailing and Activity Centre.

Source: Leeds City Council