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Final Open event of 2024 hosted by Solway Yacht Club and much more!
As the 2024 sailing season moves into its later stages, it was a busy weekend in Kippford with the Solway yacht Club’s round of the ILCA Laser Lakeland and Borders Grand Prix open meeting, alongside club racing on Saturday with a special day of Laser coaching and the re-running of the Palnackie Race on Sunday. With the glorious Indian summer weather still holding, competitors from North and South of the Border joined Club members for the ILCA Laser event.
The ILCA Lasers are split into three separate divisions with different rig and sail dimensions in each. The full rig ILCA7 boats were joined by the popular Radial ILCA6 types and predominantly younger competitors sailing with the 4.7 rig, the ILCA4s. With a planned three race programme, Principal Race Officer, John Broadbent and the Race Committee anchored the Committee Boat opposite Rough Island and racing was soon underway. The full ILCA7 of Greg Liggins from Derwent Reservoir Sailing Club set the pace followed by Solway member Simon Wilson and Richard Benson of Beadnell SC in their ILCA6 Radials, although Richard was unfortunate and did not finish). Solway Yacht Club Cadet champion, Toby Iglehart in his 4.7 was keeping pace with most of the Radials making for a very competitive race.
Race two and again, Greg led but now it was Simon Wilson having an incredibly close race with another Solway member, Finlay Train, only settled in Finlay’s favour in the last few moments when he tacked onto a favourable windshift, gaining the few extra metres to get to the line just ahead of Simon. Again, Toby was well up with the other Radials, although Finn Harris in his Radial wasn’t that far astern for much of the race.
The final race made it three wins in a row for Greg but this time Dewi Williams in an older Radial led the rest with Toby third on the water. Richard Benson had a big capsize at Q buoy, dropping him down the fleet but recovered to finish. It was then down to applying the handicap corrections to reveal the overall result. Greg took the main trophy, but it came as no great surprise to find Toby second overall with Simon third.
Result: Lakeland and Borders Laser Grand Prix
1st Greg Liggins (ILCA7)
2nd Toby Iglehart (ILCA4)
3rd Simon Wilson (ILCA6
4th Finn Harris (ILCA4)
5th Demi Williams (ILCA6)
6th Finlay Train (ILCA6)
7th James Colbeck (ILCA4)
8th Richard Benson (ILCA6
In the Club racing the day went to Colin Filer and Jamie Gascoigne in their Flying Fifteen, although Stewart Mitchell in his Finn came close with Alec Glendinning (Vortex) third and Stephen Gaughan and Carwyn Watkins in their Osprey fourth.
Building on the success of the Club’s ILCA Laser fleet, a special race coaching day was organised to help develop the younger helms race craft, strategy and tactics. The day started with a theory session followed by boat set-up and training ashore before getting onto the water to put it all into practice. We look forward to good reports and great results from the Cadets who are shortly travelling to open events elsewhere.
Meanwhile the popular Palnackie Pursuit race was being re-run after the original event had been void a few weeks earlier following a problem with the timing. Race Officer Duncan Gillespie started the varied fleet at their predetermined handicap times with the fastest boats starting last. Run over 90 minutes most had rounded the top buoy just off Palnackie harbour well within the hour and were back off the pier with ten minutes still to go. A short course had been set in anticipation and Stewart Mitchell in his Finn was round first, followed by John Broadbent and Louise Allan in the GP14 and the fast-closing Osprey of Steve Gaughan and Carwyn Watkins. Palnackie stalwart, Dewi Williams had swapped his Laser Radial of the day before, now sailing his trusty Mirror dinghy “Walrus”, often so hard to beat but this time it was fourth for him. Of the younger helms, newcomer Katie Brown did a great job to be first of the Toppers, followed by Ida Iglehart and then Lucy Leyshon.
Palnackie Race Result:
1st Stewart Mitchell (Finn)
2nd John Broadbent and Louise Allan (GP14)
3rd Stephen Gaughan and Carwyn Watkins (Osprey)
4th Dewi Williams (Mirror, single handed)
5th and 1st Cadet, Katie Brown (Topper)
6th Stewart Biggar (ILCA4)
7th Ida Iglehart (Topper)
8th Lucy Leyshon (Topper)
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Laser Stratus for sale
15 years old and in good condition
Drop keel
Blue hull
Used for 1 week per year over last 10 years
Road trailer and launching trailer
£5000 or very near offer.
Contact Robin Aston: mobile 07831456835
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Late Season Whitehaven Cruise Report 2024
Saturday 31st August/Sunday 1st September A total of ten boats took part in the end of season weekend cruise to Whitehaven. Kirkcudbright yachts Freebird (Moody 31 mark 2), Esprit (Prout Snowgoose 37), Stardust (Jaguar 25) and Child of Fortune (Westerly Pentland), Kippford yachts Bonaventure (Westerly Consort Duo), Bayard (Altanta Viking 800) and Misty (Moody 31 mark 2) as well as Kippford motorboats Mr Solitude (Fairline Cornish),Tonic (Sealine SC35) and Marika (Bayliner 2855) set off from Scottish shores on a calm and bright Saturday morning.
Yachts left as early as the tide would allow and motored for the first hour or so. Misty accompanied the Kippford boats beyond Hestan before returning to her mooring.
A fair wind soon picked up. A fine sail was reported by all yachts with north/north easterlies Force 3-4 winds encountered for most of the passage. Motorboats set off around midday steaming line ahead out of Kippford.
All boats passed through the lock gates safely and moored close together within the marina. Staff (from the lock operator to those in the office) could not have been more welcoming. After a quick lunch ashore, skippers and crews returned to Freebird for a glass of champagne with the wonderful addition of sunshine. Late evening activities were enhanced by the presence of the Harbour Festival with acrobats, dancers, and music.
Many cruise members also took advantage of the generous invitation to an early evening BBQ in the marina by the Whitehaven Sailing Club. It is hoped that we can interest both their yachting and motorboat members in joining some of our future cruising activities.
There were concerns about the possible weather conditions on the Sunday. One model in particular predicted high wind speeds on the Scottish coast line. Some skippers were talking about taking advantage of the 2 for 1 night offer from the marina and returning on the Monday. In the event anticipated winds moderated and all but Esprit departed Whitehaven as planned on Sunday. The wind steadily increased to easterly F5 with Bayard and Bonventure making the 22 nm return trip in less than 4 hours! One skipper described the sail as ‘exhilarating’. Freebird recorded boat speeds close to, and occasionally exceeding, 7 knots as well as a maximum recorded wind speed of 26.2 knots. Esprit reported an average of 8 knots when returning on Monday. All yachts made fast passages to their respective moorings. The motorboats returned safely although one had a damaged gearbox.
After such a disappointing summer this was a positive closing weekend. Let’s hope we have more of the same next year!
Neil Munro member SYC and KSC
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Solway Sunshine…. pity about the wind!
With the promise of high pressure building and good conditions, a select fleet of modern and vintage boats with their eager crews gathered on the pier in Kippford for the start of the 2024 Scottish National 12 Championships. Late summer sunshine was already warming the morning air, and hopes were rising of a pleasant sea breeze building. After briefing by Race Officer Stewart Mitchell, the boats launched and picked up a tow out to the starting area, any breeze yet to materialise.
After an initial postponement, and with only a very gentle north-easterly keeping the boats moving, a short course was set and race one got underway. The two “Dead Cat Bounce” design boats of Antony and Jo Gifford from Royal Tay YC, and Iain and Maisie Macintyre (Loch Tummel SC), plus the “Big Issue” of Tim and Chris Hampshire (Ripon SC) led away with Angus Beyts and Berry Behane, (Newburgh SC) getting a good start in their vintage boat. Meanwhile Ian and Margaret Purkis (Solway YC) were caught in the tide and only just avoided being OCS at the wrong end of the line. Clear of the windward mark and after a slow rounding of the wing mark, Antony and Jo were having a very close race with Tim and Chris as they headed for the leeward mark, Iain and Maisie not far behind. Some way back Ian and Margaret had made up for their poor start and got ahead of Angus and Berry and that’s how they finished.
After another postponement and now with only the lightest of sea airs coming from the South, the ebbing tide left the RO little alternative but to make the best of it and start race two. With a bit of help from the ebb, the new windward mark was reached with Tim and Chris already ahead. From somewhere they picked up wind and were building an ever-increasing lead at an astonishing rate. Ian and Margaret and Angus and Berry were in close company in their vintage boats, now joined by the leading club boats having their own race after a starting later. Tim and Chris’ lead seemed to get bigger with every minute and they were already well on their way into lap 2 while the others were still some way short of completing lap 1. Ian and Margaret broke clear of the following pack, but Angus and Berry got bogged down with the club boats, Tim and Chris lapping them before finishing and heading home. Antony and Jo were having the closest of light airs battles with Iain and Maisie while suddenly, further out, the sea breeze finally arrived giving Ian and Margaret a lovely broad reach in, “Mock Turtle” steaming along almost up to the transoms of the two semi-becalmed DCBs before they too finally got the breeze and were off again. With the Club fleet finishing on lap one, Angus and Berry had a lonely second lap but at least they enjoyed the best wind of the day.
After some tasty SYC pies and beans and a sunny walk for ice creams, an excellent social evening followed in “The Mariner” with the promise of the Palnackie Race the next day.
The Palnackie Pursuit race, a Solway Yacht Club institution, takes the fleet up-river round the twists and turns, mudbanks and shallows of the River Urr up to a mark laid midstream, two hundred yards short of Palnackie’s historic harbour. With the N12s taking their turn to start, they soon caught some of the earlier starting club boats. Reaching the mark, it was Antony and Jo inches ahead of Tim and Chris. Fickle winds gusting round the surrounding hills make this race tricky by any standards but as the minutes ticked away, Iain and Maisie picked just the right course and caught the perfect gust in the final few seconds to get them ahead when it mattered, claiming their first win of the weekend. With Ian and Margaret non-starting it was left to Angus and Berry to uphold vintage honours and in one final short race downstream, they’d saved their best till last, catching and very nearly gaining the lead over the two modern boats. In the end it was Antony and Jo who took the win and with it, retained the Scottish National 12 Championship trophy, immaculately polished by Antony ahead of the weekend.
Result:
1st Antony and Jo Gifford (N3529 “Cat in the Hat” Dead Cat Bounce)
2nd Tim and Chris Hampshire (N3502, “Carbonara” Big Issue)
3rd Iain and Maisie Macintyre (N3519 the original “Dead Cat Bounce”)
4th and winner of the Mariner Mug for older boats, Angus Beyts and Berry Behane (N2153 “Reflection” Starfish design)
5th Ian and Margaret Purkis (N1620 “Mock Turtle” Proctor Mk 6)
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On Saturday August 24th this year’s ever popular Cadet Adventure Day took place on land and sea from the northern end of Rough Firth upstream from the SYC pier to as far out as White Horse Bay. The “Adventure”, as in previous years, was masterminded, organised and run by Willie Patterson who, as always, had thought up an ingenious and cunning plot around which the event took place.
The adventure was based around a fictitious story entitled “Crystals of Rathan”. Rathan is an alternative name which has been used in the past for the isle of Hestan. The “crystals” were thought to have originated in the fourteenth century Heston manor house of John Balliol. They were passed on to subsequent owners of the island and later donated to the SYC for safekeeping in the early twentieth century. They had recently been stolen from the club by Rank Bajin, a local criminal, who had then demanded a ransom for their return. The SYC’s response was to recruit five “special agents” to hunt him down, recover the crystals, then disperse themselves to five separate sites around Rough Firth. The cadets task of the day was to contact the agents, each of whose location was given to them by map reference, exchange passwords, following which they would be given one of the crystals for safe return to the clubhouse.
Twenty seven cadets aged eight to eighteen took part in five separate teams. Each team travelled at high speed between the individual agents locations in RIBs captained by a senior club member. The map references showed the agents were to be found up river from the yacht club’s pier, Kippford merse, Horse Isles Bay, Whiteport Bay and on the Mission Control ship “Alicat”, located at sea just south of Rough Island. Travel between Horse Isles Bay and Whiteport Bay involved walking overland through the area in which Rank Bajin had last been seen. As the cadets were liable to attack from him by water pistol they themselves were suitably equipped to respond if necessary. Within two hours all teams had successfully retrieved the crystals and returned them to Mission Control on Alicat. Thereafter much fun was had by the cadets many of whom who dived into the water from their RIBs or off the top of Alicat.
Overall a great Adventure Day was had and thoroughly enjoyed by all who took part including much useful training in land and sea based seamanship skills. Further such training “adventures” are much anticipated in times to come.
Report by Robert Dinwiddie Photos by John Sproat
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Kippford Week 2024; featuring big winds, big waves and at least some sunny sailing.
As with the Solway Yacht Club’s Cadet Week a fortnight ago, the Kippford RNLI Regatta and the main Kippford Week were brought forward by a couple of days, enforced by this year’s tide times. A mixed forecast of sun, rain and wind promised very varied conditions all week, while competitors were arriving from many parts of the UK, joining local club members.
First off, the RNLI Regatta Race was again well supported with a variety of over thirty boats on the start line, accompanied by the Kippford lifeboat out in the Urr estuary.
Split into four fleets, the fast and medium handicap boats started together, followed by the slow handicap dinghies. Finally, the Flying Fifteen keelboats and larger cruising yachts started, the latter heading for their courses further offshore. With the sun shining, the racing dinghies enjoyed breezy conditions within the partial shelter of the estuary, further out the stronger winds were making for exciting sailing for the Flying Fifteens and yachts. As is the long-established Club tradition, all entry fees for the race were donated to our local RNLI.
Results:
Flying Fifteens:
1st Colin Filer and Jamie Gascoigne
2nd Scott Train and Anne Stewart
3rd Andrew Johnston and Anna Milne
4th Ian Purkis and Peter Lee
Cruisers:
1st Fiona and Gordon Blandford (Hawk 20)
2nd John Searle, Gareth Jones & Andrew Bodenham (Pegasus 800)
3rd Richard Carson, Iain Coke and Harry Carson (Hawk 20)
4th Ronnie Coutts and Mark Harris (Sadler 29)
5th Robert Dinwiddie and crew (Hunter 20)
Fast Handicap (HCP1):
1st Stewart Mitchell (Finn)
2nd Keith Veasey (Finn)
3rd Katie and Finn Harris (RS200)
4th Scott McColm (Finn)
5th Ian Holden and Nicola Nelson (RS400)
6th Alexander Noble and Huw Williams (Dart 18)
7th James Bishop and Alex Lammie (Fireball)
8th Matthew Murray-Downing and Gavin Downing (B14)
Medium Handicap (HCP2):
1st Simon Wilson (ILCA6)
2nd John Broadbent and Louise Allan (GP14)
3rd Finlay Train (ILCA6)
4th Iain Briggs (ILCA7)
5th Anna Griffin (ILCA6)
6th Mark Lewis and Nathan Flaherty (GP14)
7th Hamish MacDonald (ILCA6)
8th Mhairi MacDonald (ILCA6)
9th Emma Lane (ILCA6)
Slow Handicap (HCP3):
1st Toby Iglehart (ILCA4)
2nd Alex and Olivia Cleaver (Firefly)
3rd Stewart Biggar (ILCA4)
4th Sally and Hamish Mackay (Mirror)
5th Joe Barnes and Beatrice Overend (Miracle)
6th Elise Reilly and Ida Iglehart (RS Feva XL)
7th Lucy Leyshon and Hannah O’Dwyer (RS Feva XL)
8th James Colbeck (ILCA4)
Kippford Week
The next day, Sunday and the race series scheduled for the following five days got underway. With more wind and overcast skies than during the Regatta race, it was going to get exciting. Several boat and crew changes made for an expanded fleet with most making it safely out into the bay and into the starting area. First off were the fast and medium handicap fleets, (HCP 1&2) followed by the slow handicap (HCP3), and finally the Flying Fifteen and cruiser fleet.
Before long the wind increased, and things got tricky. In the Flying Fifteen fleet out in the Solway, Colin Filer and Jamie Gascoigne were giving a masterly display of high-speed control in big waves and breaking water. Further back Scott Train and Anne Stewart were giving chase, but the Andrew Johnston/Anna Milne crew were in difficulty forcing an early retirement. John Sproat and Steve Gaughan were still in the hunt while Ian Purkis and Peter Lee, in only their second race in this class, were battling on into a distant fourth.
In the bay, Stewart Mitchell showed his mastery of the Finn class while Club Commodore Scott McColm, in another Finn, suffered a broken mast, one of multiple retirements. Andrew and Liz Bell (Albacore) came a strong second with Ian Holden and Nicola Nelson (RS400) finishing third. Hamish & Sally Mackay (Laser 2000) took the HCP2 fleet while in HCP3, Cadet Champion Toby Iglehart was making winning look easy with Stewart Biggar second, both in ILCA4 boats. Lucy Leyshon and Hannah O’Dwyer finished third in their RS Feva XL. In the end, results showed that fewer than half the competitors finished with safety boats kept busy all day.
Day two of the series had a forecast of even stronger winds and foul weather, leaving the Race Committee, expertly led by PRO Lindsay Tosh, no option but to cancel all racing for the day. Taking shelter in the Clubhouse, competitors scanned the internet to follow the Olympic sailing in Marseille; contrasting fortunes as they suffered repeated cancellations due to lack of wind.
Tuesday and a better forecast promised good racing, but it was not to be. Sea conditions, if anything, became more difficult, and increasing winds caused one of the first casualties. Out in the Solway, South of Hestan Island, the Sproat/Gaughan Flying Fifteen suffered serious hull damaged and was forced into retirement with urgent help needed from the safety boats. The crew returned safe and unharmed, but it was the end of their Kippford Week. Filer and Gascoigne continued their dominance in their modern Flying Fifteen, flying their spinnaker downwind, while other crews kept theirs stowed.
In the bay, conditions at last allowed the Race Committee to run two races. Wind and waves from further out still made conditions tricky but in HCP1 Stewart Mitchell’s Finn and the Bell’s Albacore again took first and second with Graham Young now up to third in his RS Aero. The HCP2 fleet win also went again to the Mackay 2000 while Toby Iglehart notched up another win in HCP3
Day 4 and another forecast of strong winds, exceeding what the Race committee assessed as being safe for racing. Very reluctantly another sailing day cancelled but by way of some consolation, highly competitive games of table tennis and pool were organised in the clubhouse.
The fifth and final day, and despite another poor forecast, the worst held off to allow one short race to round off the week. The evening prizegiving had all the winners presented with their trophies and prizes. The Club’s prestigious “Prince of Wales” Trophy, awarded for the outstanding performance, had proved impossible to be judged as, most unusually, in four of the fleets, the winners had all won every single race in the series. As a result, all four were jointly awarded the trophy, much to the approval of all present. Best boat award went to Andrew and Liz Bell for their beautiful and immaculate Albacore.
Club Commodore, Scott McColm then particularly thanked everyone who competed, served in safety boats, on the pier or on the Committee boat for persevering in difficult and often challenging conditions. Special mention was made by the Cadet Officer, Jo Harris, of the twelve Club Cadets competing, recognising their success alongside the adults and how proud she was of their achievements. Big thanks also went to all the volunteers serving in both the galley and the bar. The evening was rounded off with another great “End of Kippford Week party and Ceilidh”, one of several social events making for a superb week on and off the water.
OVERALL RESULTS:
Flying Fifteens:
1st Colin Filer and Jamie Gascoigne
2nd Scott Train and Anne Stewart
3rd Ian Purkis and Peter Lee
4th Andrew Johnston and Anna Milne
5th John Sproat and Stephen Gaughan
Cruisers
1st John Searle / Gareth Jones / Andrew Bodenham (Pegasus 800)
2nd Richard Carson / Iain Coke / Harry Carson (Hawk 20)
3rd Ronnie Coutts / Mark Harris (Sadler 29)
4th Fiona and Gordon Blandford (Hawk 20)
Fast handicap (HCP1):
1st Stewart Mitchell (Finn)
2nd Andrew and Liz Bell (Albacore)
3rd James Bishop and Alex Lammie (Fireball)
4th Ian Holden and Nicola Nelson (RS400)
5th Katie Harris and Tamsin Wallace (RS200)
6th Keith Veasey (Finn)
7th Finlay Train and Nicola McColm (RS400)
8th Graham Young (RS Aero 7)
9th Matthew Murray-Downing and Gavin Downing (B14)
10th Scott McColm (Finn)
11th Ellie Young and Claire Stewart (RS200)
12th Douglas Dinwiddie and Pippa Benson (RS400)
13th Ellie Rowand and Lilli Bell (Fireball)
Medium Handicap (HCP2):
1st Hamish and Sally Mackay (2000)
2nd Stephen Brisley (ILCA6)
3rd Simon Wilson (ILCA6)
4th Anna Griffin (ILCA6)
5th Emma Lane (ILCA6)
6th Mark Lewis and Nathan Flaherty (GP14)
7th Ian and Jenny Dinwiddie (Enterprise)
8th Finn Harris (ILCA6)
9th Ian Briggs (ILCA7)
10th Hamish MacDonald (ILCA6)
Slow Handicap (HCP3):
1st Toby Iglehart (ILCA4)
2nd Lucy Leyshon and Hannah O’Dwyer (RS Feva XL)
3rd James Colbeck (ILCA4)
4th Beatrice Overend and Joe Barnes (Miracle)
5th Elise Reilly and Ida Iglehart (RS Feva XL)
6th Frazer McFadzean (Topper)
7th Stewart Biggar (ILCA4)
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Maryport Cruise July 6th/7th/8th 2024
After radio checks on Channel 72 Bayard (Atlanta Viking 800), Misty (Moody 31 mk2), Moonrise (Westerly Fulmar), Riant (Romilly) and Tryfan (Sadler 29) slipped their moorings at Kippford around 1015 on Saturday 6th July for the outward leg of the planned Maryport cruise. The forecast was for F3-F4 north westerly winds rising in the evening. For the return trip it was predicted winds would be of similar strength and back ie come from the south west or west. The two motorboats Zen Voyager (Sealine 330) and Mr Solitude (Fairline Cornish) set off approximately two hours after the yachts
The yachts proceeded in line ahead as far as Hestan where Misty peeled off to accompany the gathering fleet of RNLI craft preparing to make an entrance for the Kippford RNLI open day. The remaining four boats enjoyed an excellent sail for the next two to three hours. On approaching Maryport the wind increased. This resulted in rapidly developing overfalls just at the entrance of Maryport harbour for the final half hour. One skipper described how he ‘surfed’ into the marina! He also remarked that the outer harbour is big enough for single handed yachtsmen to sail straight in and immediately drop the sails. Moonrise reported a fast passage in winds that really suited a bigger yacht although one younger member of crew was seasick after being below for too long. The two motorboats arrived at about the same time as the yachts and made an uneventful entry.
All mariners met aboard Moonrise for a well earned glass of champagne before venturing ashore. Several venues were sampled. The Labour Club and Sailors Return proved good watering holes whilst the Maryport Tandoori was worth a visit. Special mention was made of the meals at the Golden Lion. Crews enjoyed the friendliness of the marina and town.
The following morning the yachts set sail when the flap gate permitted. Zen Voyager opted to stay for a further night at the marina. Initially winds were on the nose and progress was a little slow. Later on, however, the wind came from the west and strengthened. A smallest yacht (Riant) described it as an exciting, if somewhat rough, passage to Kippford. Moonrise crossed Solway in no time at all. Tryfan planned to route north west after Maryport towards Kirkcudbright. With the wind changing direction and increasing to 25-30 knots she spent a night moored off Little Ross. Her crew had a beautiful sail under a blue sky to Kippford the next morning. They felt it was almost as if they were in the Med!
All boats had returned safely to their moorings by the 8th July. .A good time, it appears, was had by all. However our Kirkcudbright colleagues were very much missed as the tide and timing for their outwards leg made it difficult to complete the cruise in the weekend. We will plan better for next year.’
Neil Munro, member SYC and KSC
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Hot shot racing and beginning on the pathway: Solway Yacht Club’s Cadet Week 2024
Thanks to the tide times, the Solway Yacht Club’s Cadet Week 2024 in Kippford started a day earlier than usual with the welcome and briefing on Saturday evening. Young people, families and friends from many parts of the country as well as further afield were greeted by Jo Harris the Club’s Cadet Officer, Commodore Scott McColm, Training Officer Emma McRobert and briefed by the racing fleet Principal Race Officer Stewart Biggar. Other groups were introduced to their instructors and coaches. This year the progression pathway was changed slightly with the 2nd year beginners identified separately from the 1st year Red Caps, now having Burgundy (or possibly purple) Caps, no one seemed quite sure of the colour! The White Caps (the original “Kepis Blancs”), were the well-established improvers group and the hot shot racers, the Black Caps.
With the serious business on the water starting on Sunday, the beginners began their basic tuition while further out the racers were getting ready for the first in the week-long race series. Despite a promising breeze as the course was set, the wind shifted and dropped to almost nothing just as the race started. The effect was a slow drift to the windward mark with boats creeping round part of the course. First win in the fast handicap 1 fleet went to Toby Iglehart in his ILCA 4, fresh from his Junior Race win at the previous weekend’s Nottinghamshire County SC Commodore’s Cup Regatta. Race 2 and a 12-knot breeze arrived, again, just as race started changing conditions completely. This time Finn Harris, also in an ILCA4 got the win, starting a week-long battle between the two. In Handicap 2 the first win went to Ida Iglehart in her Topper with Lucy Leyshon winning race 2 in another Topper.
Day 2 dawned with very little wind; boats were towed out to course South of Rough Island where a light Easterly gave a favourable square course over one lap. The wind shifted as race 2 started meaning the windward mark was no longer an upwind beat. By good luck, or good course laying, another leg became a beat so Cadets’ skill at all points of sailing was tested. Race one saw the first win for Katie Harris and Sally Mackay in the RS200 but it was Toby Iglehart again in Race 2. Handicap 2 saw a first win for Lucy Leyshon in race 1 with race 2 going to Ida. The Solway YC’s unique “Mudlarks”; tug o’ war, fun and games and mud slide down into the Urr, had cadets muddy from head to toe and they didn’t spare the adult safety crew to similar treatment, much to the delight of the spectator crowd!
With an unusual forecast of zero wind at one point, Tuesday didn’t look promising, but the Solway sun shone brightly, a beautiful day, an on-time lovely sea breeze and perfect conditions! How wrong could the forecast have been locally! A welcome visit from Ben Luckett, RYA Scotland’s Interim Pathway Sailing Officer showed the Club at its best and he seemed impressed. Out in the bay racing continued but in the estuary the improvers group were getting into short practice races. In one day, they went from a clearly inexperienced group to “on the gun” starting and close tacking to the windward mark, culminating in a two-lap race with sweets as prizes for the podium places in all five short races, the young race coaches, Ben and Henry, doing a great job.
Wednesday, the traditional day for the Scauronian race, which is one long race round a big course. It was windy! The Black Caps got out to the Committee boat and the race got underway. Too much for some, there were many retirements, beached boats and busy safety boats. In the end no injuries or damage, just tired crews. Close inshore the Red and Burgundy cap groups were learning fast and getting more than their fair share of capsize practices but after more tired crews, the instructors called it a day an hour early. Probably a very good thing so energy was saved for the much-heralded Cadet Dinner (parents prohibited) and Ceilidh later in that evening.
Thursday and the final day and just one race to wind up the series. The traditional Cadets “splash down” off the pontoon was the preamble to the prizegiving and awards of certificates to the beginners, hopefully all who’ll be returning next year to follow the progression pathway. As well as the race winners, best improver awards in the White Caps went to Lucy Johnstone, while most progress in the beginners’ groups were awarded to Red Caps Tilly Stanning and Burgundy Caps Thomas Barton.
Special thanks for the week went to the hardworking Galley team led by Hilary O’Dwyer as well as all the Race Committee and Safety Boat crews but most of all, to Jo Harris and Emma McRobert.
Black Cap Results:
Handicap 1:
1st Toby Iglehart (ILCA 4)
2nd Finn Harris (ILCA 4)
3rd Katie Harris and Sally Mackay (RS200)
4th Murray Wilson (ILCA 4)
5th James Colbeck (ILCA 4)
6th Callum McRobert (Byte C1)
7th Connor Rennie (ILCA 4)
8th Tamsin Wallace and Mollie Keiley (RS200)
9th Jack Johnstone (ILCA 4)
Handicap 2:
1st Lucy Leyshon (Topper)
2nd Anastasia Yao Yao (Topper)
3rd Ida Iglehart (Topper)
4th Jessica Brown (Topper)
5th Maria McMiken and Hannah O’Dwyer (RS Feva XL)
6th Katie Brown (Topper)
7th Murray McKendrick (Topper)
8th Elise Reilly and Frazer McFadzean (RS Feva XL)
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SOLWAY YACHT CLUB
RNLI REGATTA AND KIPPFORD WEEK OPEN WEEK STARTS 3rd August TO 8th August FOR DINGHIES - MULTIHULLS - OPEN KEELBOATS (PN 600 TO 1450 INCLUSIVE) - CRUISERS (MONO AND MULTIHULL)
Solway Yacht Club invites you to join us for our annual RNLI Regatta and Kippford Week, offering great sailing in a setting of outstanding natural beauty. Kippford Week is a family friendly series providing competitive racing and after racing social events. It attracts regular competitors from all over Scotland, England and frequently beyond.
Notice of race for these events are available from Webcollect. Click HERE to access and book you place.
N.B. If you are having problems with the entry form a paper based entry form only is available HERE.
Solway Yacht Club, The Clubhouse, Kippford, Dalbeattie, Dumfries and Galloway
DG5 4LL
Tel: 01556 620312
www.thesyc.com
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Solway Yacht Club Open Day at Kippford
On one of the best days of warm sunshine so far this year and with a light southerly wind two hundred visitors aged from 3 to many over 80 years of age came from all over Scotland and other parts of the UK to Kippford on Saturday. They were here to enjoy one of the best Solway Yacht Club Open Days in recent times. A warm welcome was given by club members to all visitors who wanted to sample the club’s facilities both on and off the water.
Kippford has been described by the Kippford Village Association as a “Hidden Gem” and seeing it from the sea shows this scenic village at its best. As the incoming tide of the river Urr laps gently onto the shore the many high contrast features of the seafront buildings are shown off at their best.
Boat rides out into Rough Firth, past Rough Island even towards Hestan Island, were available in a large sailing cruiser, rigid inflatable boats (RIBs) and not least the Club’s sailboats powered only by the wind. These included Dinghy types such as Toppers, Picos. Fevas, a Buzz and a Bahia. Boat names of these include “Picoboo”, “Nightfeva”, “Discofeva”, “I think I have a Feva” and Charlotte”.
After sailing, for those who went out in boats and also for those who did not go afloat a great welcome was made to one and all in the Clubhouse. Here they enjoyed tea, coffee, soft drinks and a delicious variety of home-made cakes showing off the excellent baking skills of many of the Club’s members.
On Friday 10th, a number of members had also completed an on and off the water Royal Yachting Association (RYA) Safety Boat course. The weekend’s sunshine and fair winds allowed for maximum on water time to test out the background theory and give the boat drivers and their crew the necessary valuable experience to complete this important qualification. Thanks are given to the instructors April Whitely, Alan Gilman and Julian Stanning. Congratulations are due to Simon Blissett, David Reilly, Emma McRobert, Andy Adair, Katie Bishop, Richard Bishop and James Bishop.
On Saturday May 25th 11 large yachts and powerboats – the Solway Yacht Club’s “Solway Armada” will sail or motor over to Whitehaven for a special social weekend at Whitehaven Marina.
Another important further event for the Club this year will happen on the weekend of May 25th and 26th. This is the honour of hosting a country-wide competition open to all owners if Finn dinghy boats north and south of the border. That weekend the Club will also celebrate its 120th anniversary of existence. This will take the form of a special Regatta and social event in the evening.
Given the success of this year’s Open Day next year’s Open Day is being looked forward to with much enthusiasm
Report by Robert Dinwiddie and images courtesy of Becky Davison and Emma McRobert
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High Tide and Hot Pursuit!
Images by Richard Bishop
Despite an early tide in Kippford, the Solway Yacht Club still had time to hold their popular annual Spring Pursuit race. Held over 90 minutes, the slowest rated boats start first, progressing to the fastest last, the winner being the race leader at the 90-minute point. With the tide still rising and little wind, Race Officer and handicapper, John Broadbent, unexpectedly set an up-river course to the first turning mark before the fleet set off down the estuary to a second mark out in the bay.
First away was Cadet Lucy Leyshon, leading the fleet in her Topper on reaching the first mark, followed by 2023 Cadet Champion, Toby Iglehart in his ILCA4 Laser who took the lead shortly after and held it until he reached the moored yachts. At the 20-minute point, the Firefly of Ian and Margaret Purkis got past and stretched their lead out into the bay but with less than ten minutes to go, the Flying Fifteen of Colin Filer and Jamie Gascoigne, closely followed by the Finns of first Stewart Mitchell and the Keith Veasey were all coming into contention, the four leading boats virtually “mast abeam” although quite spread out. At the second turning mark, the Filer/Gascoigne Flying Fifteen was first round, just ahead of Mitchell second, followed by Veasey and the Purkis crew, finishing in that order, but the Firefly lucky to hold on to fourth with the fast-closing Osprey of Steve and Linda Gaughan right on their tail as the 90-minute finish sounded.
Regrettably racing the following day was abandoned with flat calm conditions.
The Club’s Open Day is this Saturday 11th May starting at 12.00 midday, when the Club looks forward to welcoming the local community to sample the delights of all types of boating in our beautiful surroundings.
