Solway Yacht Club 60th Anniversary Cadet Week
by Ian Purkis 25 Jul 2016 15:42 BST
60 years since the Solway Yacht Club Cadet Fleet was founded; then in 1960 the first Cadet Sailing week in Kippford was held and now, in 2016, 60 Cadets from near and far enjoy a great Cadet week.
With several of the founding members of the Cadet Fleet present, today's young sailors gathered in Kippford for a week of racing, training, fun and games, all under the expert leadership of SYC Cadet Officer, Willie Patterson. Day 1 on Monday dawned dull but with a perfect wind so the racers got the week off to a great start... or it would have been if the second fleet to start the first race had worked out where to go to follow the correct course! However as they all followed the leading boat to the wrong buoy before realising their mistake, it still made it a proper race, even if a rather longer one than intended. Winners on Day 1 were Hamish Williams, Finlay Train, Emily Biggar and Douglas Copeman. Further back in the racing fleet, the novice racers, the "Kepis Bleus" were being coached by several recent past cadets, passing on their considerable skills, Ellie Young coming out on top in both races.
Meanwhile the basic training group the "Kepis Rouge" was learning the ropes close inshore under instruction from 19 year old Rhys Williams under the watchful eye of Lindsay Tosh, Senior Instructor managing the week long training. The "Kepis Blancs" the intermediate group, led by Pip Benson, herself a former SYC Cadet and a very successful competitive sailor were developing their skills away from the racing action.
Day 2 and it was "Costa del Kippforda"! A scorcher and no wind, so racing was delayed but as a pleasant sea breeze came it, the two scheduled races were run, ably managed by Principal Race Officer for the week, Stewart Biggar. This time it was two wins for Duncan Blandford in the fast handicap fleet with more wins for Emily Biggar & Douglas Copeman in the slower fleet. The novice fleet wins went to Ben Rawson, then Ellie Young again.
Once off the water and with the tide out, it was onto the mud for the main event, MUDLARKS!! The Commodore, Jim Holland clearly took this to be a formal occasion, turning up in white shirt and tie... but it didn't stay white for long! The traditional Tug o' War was won by the well organised but very muddy team "A" beating the even muddier team "B"... or was it the other way round? Kids who delight in getting covered in mud from head to foot all look the same! Then off to the steep mud bank for some spectacular rollin', tumblin' and slidin' down into the river below while the somewhat anxious safety crew, now also very muddy, held station in the river.
Day 3 Wednesday dawned with the sparks flying, literally! Overnight thunder and lightning continued into the morning, delaying sailing until the risk of lightning strikes had passed. The sun came out, the wind picked up and with only one longer "Scauronian" Race scheduled, the respective fleets were won by Hamish Williams, Emily Biggar and Ellie Young. Meanwhile several senior members of the Club led by "chef extraordinaire", Duncan Gillespie, were busy preparing the Cadets' Dinner, exclusively for the Cadets, no adults allowed except the same senior members, now the waiting staff! After a group photo on the lawn, the day then rounded off with a ceilidh led by Ross Kennedy, the SYC's Safety Boat Officer, resident DJ and, of course, ceilidh caller.
Day 4, Thursday, and SYC was delighted to welcome back Flora Stewart, herself a recent SYC Cadet and now Team GB Olympic Development Squad Member as an inspirational "on the water" coach, to spur on both the more and the less experienced. Conditions were favourable with two more wins for Duncan Blandford in the fast fleet, one to Emily Biggar and an encouraging first win of the week for Lucas Pedley. In the third fleet Lilli Bell beat the rest twice.
Day 5, Friday, the final day's racing and challenging weather, blowing hard and rain. With overall wins now possible for several competitors up for grabs, it was an exciting climax for not just the Cadets on the water but also enthusiastic parents ashore. Out in the bay it was Finlay Train who had to work hard in the conditions to be the worthy winner in the faster fleet while Emily Biggar was chased all the way by Philippa Howie and Louisa Birdsall in their brand new RS Feva boat, aptly named "FevUrr", in the slower fleet race. Ellie Young again recorded a win in the third fleet with Ben Rawson less than one minute behind.
The day concluded with a massive prize-giving; the serious prizes all presented by Flora Stewart aiming for the medals at the Tokyo Olympics in 2020 and giving the Cadets great words of encouragement for their future achievement whether in sailing or any other aspect of their lives ahead.. The trophies culminated in the overall winners, Duncan Blandford, Emily Biggar and Ellie Young before the joke prizes for the daftest, funniest or "wished I'd not done that" moment, most of which were too embarrassing to those concerned to repeat!.
Then it was the turn of SYC Cadets of years past to celebrate. Saturday evening and another Ceilidh this time in the village hall and led by a live band, preceded by a reception for 5 of the original Cadets of 60 years ago along with the current SYC Committee and Cadet Captain, Zak Holland all organised and gathered by Deirdre Harding, an Honorary SYC Club Member with many years' service on the Committee. Then the final event of this very special Magic 60 Celebration: The Grand River Pageant. Despite the rain over 30 boats turned out, many "dressed overall" in bunting and flags were sounded off by the original SYC canon firing to start each group before they sailed past the village in a grand parade of boats, a fitting climax to a wonderful week.