A QUEST has been set to find Yorkshire’s champion of the sea.

Whitby’s fishermen have issued a challenge to land the heaviest fish, row the fastest boat, and compose the greatest fishing song at the town’s Fish & Ships Festival on May 18 and 19, in association with Seafish.

There are three prizes at stake, all to be decided on Sunday, May 19, and designed to test a range of seafaring skills. Visitors can either cheer on their chosen champions, or take part themselves to claim one of the coveted crowns, and there’s also a children’s crown up for grabs, as Whitby Museum seeks the best Lego boat-builder.

The three challenges are:

l In a special open event, from 10am to 4pm, Whitby Sea Anglers Association has set the challenge to land the heaviest single fish. The sea-angling competition is taking place between Filey and Skinningrove, with the weigh-in held from 4pm to 5pm at Whitby’s Fish Market, and a prize haul of £1,000 for the winner, thanks to the Quayside restaurant;

l From noon, the Whitby Fishermen’s Amateur Rowing Club will battle to win in six races against the town’s Friendship Rowing Club, starting out at sea with the finish-line at Whitby’s Fish Pier, by the Lifeboat Station. The rowing races are an old local tradition dating back almost 150 years, with both clubs founded by local fishermen to show off their boat-handling skills.

l The Great North Songwriting Competition is open to everyone (although entrants need to register in advance), with judging taking place between noon and 2pm at Whitby Library, and the winner performing alongside some of the world’s greatest maritime musicians on the main stage at the festival’s finale concert later that afternoon.

Visit discoveryorkshirecoast.com/whitby/FishandShips19