CADET ADVENTURE DAY
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Cadet Adventure Day Saturday 31st August 2019. 11:00am - 3:00pmKIPPFORD WEEK A GREAT SUCCESS
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Kippford Week and RNLI Regatta 2019
A week of mixed sunshine, showers and winds from nothing to “sailing perfect” produced another year of challenges for sailors young and not-so-young for the Solway Yacht Club’s main event of the year. As always led by the Club’s highly experienced team of Race Officers and safety crews, but in particular this year’s Club Commodore, Lindsay Tosh.
Day 1 quickly identified the leading crews in the various classes and the pace was set. Many familiar faces but several new ones going well, particularly among the young.
Tuesday, day 2, and as the fleet launched many were towed out to the start line with virtually no wind. An hour passed before a few slight zephyrs could be felt and after a wee while more, enough to get the races underway. Further offshore it was again the Hawks that dominated the Cruiser class with the David Henderson and David Butler crew winning again but back in action in the Flying Fifteens after the previous day’s breakage were Colin Filer and Jamie Gascoigne. They weren’t having it their way again, beaten by the Scott Train and Anne Stewart crew. In the dinghy fleet Stewart Mitchell led the fast handicap class to a win in his Olympic Finn, fresh back from a great performance in Denmark in the World Masters Championships. Medium handicap class saw a close finish with Emily Biggar and crew Mhairi McFadzean take “line honours’ but it was Ian Purkis and crew Emily Overend in their Firefly who won after handicap corrections. The slow handicap class was won by Megan Greaves in her Topper. With the light winds, the inshore races were finished “on the water” thanks to the safety boat of Duncan Gillespie and crew, pressed into timing the finishers ensuring there was a fair result.
Windy Wednesday brought a big change to the weather with a near perfect strong steady wind which got the leading boats really flying. Offshore again it was the Henderson/Butler Hawk but in the Flying Fifteens it was the Jim Holland and Dewi Williams crew that had a big lead at the first mark and were delighted to win by a narrow margin beating the fast closing Filer/Gascoigne boat. In the dinghy classes, Alex Gendinning in his Vortex won both races in the fast handicap class, while the medium handicap class the Biggar/McFadzean crew were really flying stretching out a big lead in their 420 boat (the Olympic training type), getting their first win. The slow handicap fleet again went to Megan Greaves, clearly now the one to beat.
Thursday and another day of light winds saw a similar pattern but by now in the medium handicap class it was getting very crowded at the top of the series with Stewart Biggar in his Laser 4.7, James Bishop in his Laser Radial and the GP14 crew of Mark Lewis and Beatrice Overend joining the Biggar/McFadzean crew, all in with the chance of an overall win.
With several fleets results already settled, interest was all in the medium handicap class. On the water, line honours went to the GP14 of Lewis/Overend, but the handicap win to the Laser Radial of Alex Noble but despite only finishing third, it was just enough to secure Biggar/McFadzean the overall series win.
Despite the domination of the cruisers by the Hawk yachts, all week the other cruisers were still having their own battles. Mention must be made of “Kintra”, skippered by John Searle and his crew Andrew Bodenham who consistently came out on top of the rest.
In a very crowded clubhouse, prizegiving celebrated all those series podium place winners and those who had made the whole week run so smoothly and successfully from the galley to the race office, the mark layers, the safety crews and many others. However special awards went to Jim Prentice for his immaculate and “very shiny bottomed” foiling catamaran and most especially to Deirdre Harding for her outstanding contribution to the whole of the Club and Club life, much behind the scenes, from her days as a cadet through to today. A massive “Thank You” from everyone.
Kippford Week overall podium results.
Cruiser Class
1st David Henderson and David Butler (Hawk 20)
2nd Angus Campbell and David Henderson (Hawk 20)
3rd Sandy Mair and Alison Young (Hawk 20)
Flying Fifteens
1st Scott Train and Anne Scott
2nd Jim Holland and Dewi Williams
3rd Colin Filer and Jamie Gascoigne
Fast Handicap
1st Stewart Mitchell (Finn)
2nd Rhys Williams (Laser)
3rd Steve Brisley (Laser)
Medium Handicap
1st Emily Biggar and Mhairi McFadzean (420)
2nd Mark Lewis and Bearice Overend (GP14)
3rd Stewart Biggar (Laser 4.7)
Slow Handicap
1st Megan Greaves (Topper)
2nd Tamsin Wallace and Mollie Keiley (RS Feva)
3rd Louisa Birdsall and Alice Parker (RS Feva)
The Kippford RNLI Regatta
With all entry fees being donated to the local Kippford RNLI, the Regatta races are a separate event but linked to the main Kippford week sailing. With several crew changes and new entrants, boats were in the same classes as the main Kippford Week. This time all the races, including for the larger cruising yachts and Flying Fifteen keelboats were started from the same inshore start line. This made for a very crowded water and quite a spectacle for those ashore. With the Kippford lifeboat doing the lead boat turn, assisting sailors to follow the correct course, the races got underway.
In the light wind it was a test of sail trim, balance and patience but in the glorious summer weather, the beautiful Colvend coast was looking its best. One feature, welcomed by some, was the larger cruising yachts breaking the stranglehold previously held by the Hawk yachts in the class, with Fiona Blandford and her crew taking second.
With no sign of the wind increasing the Race Committee again called on the Safety crews to provide “on the water” finish lines between a convenient course mark buoy and their safety boat, something that had already become a feature of Kippford Week 2019
So concluded another Kippford Week with huge thanks to all those who made the whole event possible from the Race Committees, the safety crews and many more to everyone who kept the sailors fed and watered in the galley and the bar.
Kippford RNLI Regatta overall podium results.
Cruiser Class
1st David Henderson and David Butler (Hawk 20)
2nd Fiona Blandford and crew (Delpha Classic 700)
3rd Sandy Mair and Alison Young (Hawk 20)
Flying Fifteens
1st Scott Train and Anne Scott
2nd Colin Filer and Jamie Gascoigne
3rd Jim Holland and Dewi Williams
Fast Handicap
1st Stewart Mitchell (Finn)
2nd Mark and Anna Simpson (National 12)
3rd Mark Crowther (Laser)
Medium Handicap
1st Mark Lewis and Bearice Overend (GP14)
2nd Ian Purkis and Emily Overend (Firefly)
3rd James Bishop (Laser Radial)
Slow Handicap
1st Tamsin Wallace and Mollie Keiley (RS Feva)
No other finishers
HAUGH NAVY NEWS
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Urr ? What?
Rumour has it that the Haugh is developing a Navy and you may have noticed a few boats passing through the Haugh of Urr over the past 18 months.
Should you be inclined for a life on the ocean waves, then keep a weather eye out for the the Haugh boat, HOU THISTLE, not HMS Thistle, which served in the old Scots navy (1623-30).
HOU THISTLE IS 21 feet long with a 5 feet 6 inches beam and is based on a short Admiralty whaler & a Viking longship. It was designed by a Naval architect for Dave Hart. This winter HOU Thistle is going to be built by Dave & any other volunteer interested? Next Spring 2020, HOU THISTLE will be launched & the adventures begin. Unlike the TITANIC this boat cannot sink it is made of wood & full of buoyancy and lifejackets are provided. She is designed to take 6 persons plus a Skipper for rowing with 10 feet oars or paddling with 4 feet single bladed paddles. She is equipped with an outboard engine back aft.
Activities will take place on inland lochs, tidal rivers, estuaries, coastal in appropriate conditions to suit the crew. The aim is Fellowship Afloat and Ashore. The objectives are physical fitness training & wellbeing, the care of the marine environment and associated marine wildlife.
The project will be operated as a not for profit private members club.
Dave & Margaret & Jack Tar the dog moved into the Haugh of Urr 18 months ago. He is a retired boat builder and retired teacher of water sports.Dave retrained as a PE & outdoor pursuits teacher in Scotland & Newcastle upon Tyne in the early 1970`s. Dave is funding the boat build himself.
If you fancy helping to build HOU THISTLE or if if you like the idea of some fun afloat & exercise via rowing or paddling, then contact:
Dave Hart. Thistledoon, Haugh of Urr, DG73YD.
Email: dhart503 @btinternet.com
Tel: 01556 660007 or 07399552192
Kippford Week Accomodation
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We don't normally advertise businesses but Mervyn Wallace has availability for Kippford Week and I know how hard it can be to get somewhere to stay.
Open Day Success
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Willie Patterson's meticulous plan came to fruition today with a most successful Open Day. We had 115 folk from outwith the club go on the water and we got 8 new memberships. We had even more visitors who did not go out including local MSP Finlay Carson and Marc Turner from RYA Scotland, whose photographs we are agog to see. We even had the Kippford lifeboat in for a cup of tea and a bun; good to see you.
Such events rely on a huge effort from many members so can I thank all who turned up to help. We had members in the kitchen, bringing bakery, at the pierhead, in the boat park, giving joyrides, manning safety boats and much else besides. Publicity is vital and Becky, Ian and Anna arranged posters and banners. Becky has already posted some great photos on Facebook. Thank you all.
Lastly, thanks go to the RYA for their help and the materials allowing us to link the national Push the Boat Out initiative to our Open Day.
Now the task is to consolidate the gains made. We have new members, we have a raised profile locally and we need to use that to develop our great club even further.
Lindsay Tosh, Commodore
Picnic Cancelled
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The weather forecast for Monday 6th May is awful with cool northerly winds making a picnic pretty uninviting. It has therefore been cancelled. Sorry.
John Broadbent, Sailing Secretary
Kippford Week
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Entries are now invited for Kippford Week, which starts on Monday 29th July. As usual, there are six days of racing in glorious surroundings. Racing takes in dinghies (PN 600 to 1450), Flying Fifteens and cruisers. As ever, there is a very full social programme.
We prefer online entries via Webcollect (here) but we will accept paper entries if required. You can download the Notice of Race and an entry form from Webcollect or contact the Sailing Secretary, John Broadbent.
I look forward to seeing you.
Lindsay Tosh, Commodore
Success at RYAS Awards
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The club came away from the RYA Scotland Awards evening with one direct success and one indirect.
The trophy for Club of the Year was brought home to Kippford and the honour was all the sweeter when you consider the quality of the other two clubs on the shortlist; Royal Northern and Clyde YC and East Lothian YC. East Lothian now head for London as a shortlisted club for the UK awards and we wish them well.
Our one time cadet captain Jock Wishart was successful in the competition for Performance of the Year. Jock took the trophy with his Commodore's Cup team, who went to Cowes and came back not only victorious but very clearly the top team. Jock was kind enough to mention the club in his acceptance speech.
One thing we learned was that, should you be at a Burns Supper and Jock is addressing the Great Chieftain o' the Puddin Race, you'll hear and see a lively address; just keep out of claymore range! See Jock in full cry on the Facebook page.
2018 AGM Report
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New Commodore for Solway Yacht Club and shortlisted for Awards
After two successful years, Ian Purkis retired as Commodore of the Solway Yacht Club at the AGM on 17thNovember. He “handed the helm” to Lindsay Tosh, himself a longstanding and highly experienced sailor and member of the Club Committee. Summarizing his time in office, Ian said how he’s been particularly pleased to have worked with the local community in bringing more awareness of our local seafaring heritage and the modern sport of sailing to a wider audience, in particular the young children of the new Dalbeattie Learning Campus. “The Everest Skye play-boat, once an Olympic Laser class racing dinghy, is a great introduction and we hope many of those in the playground today will be the sailors of tomorrow”
Lindsay echoed the comments when accepting his election as the incoming Commodore, keen to develop these links further with the Club’s increasing involvement the the local “Active Schools” programme.
As if anyone needed reminding, the Club has been enjoying much success in recent years and expanding its activities in training, racing, sail cruising off shore and power boating. So much so that the Club was nominated for “Club of the Year” in the 2018 Annual Awards run by the sport’s governing body, RYA Scotland. Marc Turner from RYAS arrived to congratulate the Committee with the news that the Solway Yacht Club has made the shortlist, the winner to be announced at a special event in January.
More good news followed for Jock Wishart who was originally from Kirkcudbright, and, in his youth, a former Solway Yacht Club Cadet Captain. Over the years he has achieved great success not only in yachting but as an expedition leader with several polar adventures to his name. He had also been nominated and shortlisted for the RYAS 2018 “Performance of the Year” Award. Earlier in the year, he put together and led the winning, all-Scottish team in sailing’s prestigious “Commodores Cup”; he was particularly proud of the fact that the international competition was held in English sailing’s home waters, in and around the Solent. “Jock’s Celtic Team” not only won, they won handsomely with the Netherlands team a distant second.
The AGM also gave Club members the opportunity, which they took with great pleasure, to elect both Gordon and Liz Daly as Honorary Members. As the husband and wife team they have given enormous service to the Club over many years. Gordon, a retired Master Mariner, in accepting the Honorary membership, commented how grateful he’s been for the Club’s very existence, having first joined in 1953! Congratulations to Gordon and Liz!