Kippford Week 2018 at Solway Yacht Club

by Ian Purkis 6 Aug 2018 10:01 BST 28 July - 2 August 2018

The Mediterranean themed Commodore's Reception during Solway YC Kippford Week © David Rowand

Ruben Stokroos from the Netherlands at full stretch with Emily Biggar in their 420 during Solway YC Kippford Week © Ian Purkis

After the near perfect weather during The Solway Yacht Club's Cadet Week, barely days ago, how things change. Despite much of the South still sweating it out in hot sun, low pressure systems, sweeping in from the Atlantic produced gale force winds and high seas in Galloway, greatly restricting organised sailing and racing.

Nevertheless some 60 crews from around the UK arrived in Kippford on 28th July, including a fleet of the Olympic Finn class racing dinghies for a two-day open event, the same type as Sir Ben Ainslie's boat "Rita" on which he won his multiple gold medals.

Day 1 and despite the strong winds and forecast of worse, several of the larger cruising yachts set off for racing out in the Solway. However most quickly realised conditions were deteriorating and returned but not before one got into difficulties and was swept onto the mud of the Merse. While the crew weren't in any danger, a couple of the Club's safety boats, there to support the smaller racing dinghy classes, were standing by. They were able to get a line on board and secure a tow to get the yacht back into deep water and onto her mooring. With flag N over flag A signalling all sailing abandoned for the day, back in the clubhouse the banter started about how the dinghy fleet had had to rescue the poor wretched ship-wrecked mariners!

By Sunday the wind had moderated sufficiently to make racing possible and after a one-hour postponement, the Race Committee announced the start of racing. By now the wind had dropped considerably but a big blow was still forecast. With more sheltered inshore courses set, the races started but the big winds soon returned, leaving most in survival sailing mode but nevertheless one race for each class was completed with the safety boats kept busy. Six Finns entered the first Scottish and Northern open in a number of years and they managed to get only one race, the win going to Fergus Allen from Loch Earn SC (who lives in Dubai!) and second to Richard Phillips from Christchurch a long way to come for one race, the last Finn to cross the line was Stewart Mitchell from Solway YC and Annandale SC after a swim at the gybe mark. A shame the wind did not co-operate but many of the Finn sailors enjoyed exploring the beautiful area of Kippford and surrounding area including a spectacular visit to the cliffs at Balcary point when the race was blown off on the Saturday.

Father and daughter, Scott and Nicola McColm flying a hull in their F18 cat during Solway YC Kippford Week - photo © Jane Gascoigne

Monday and more strong winds but at least it was sailable with the Race Committee getting two races completed. By now local man Stewart Biggar was dominating the medium handicap class, father and daughter crew of Hamish and Sally MacKay leading the slow handicap class; other classes were still very close with everything to sail for.

Day 4 and with more very strong winds leaving everyone in little doubt, the inevitable abandonment of all sailing was confirmed.

While things weren't going too well on the water, the social side of Kippford Week was flourishing. The traditional first evening Commodore's Reception was Mediterranean themed, unlike the weather, and was enjoyed by all. The next night saw the winning quiz team generously donate their prize money to the Kippford RNLI while Monday was a first, a "Gin Tasting" night run by David Jamieson of the Kippford Association. With tickets quickly selling out, David put on a tremendous evening, one longstanding member delightfully announcing at the end that never before had he had so much fun in the Clubhouse!

Medium Handicap start during Solway YC Kippford Week - photo © Becky Davison

The final day brought little improvement in the weather. More strong winds and heavy rain presented the Race Committee with still more problems. They quickly decided that the race for slow handicap class, predominantly sailed by the less experienced, was cancelled. After yet another postponement, the other classes launched and got one tough race completed so over the five days of Kippford Week where two races were scheduled each day, a total of only four races could be sailed, and only three in the slow handicap class. Two Finns had stayed on for the rest of the week with Stewart Mitchell taking second in the Kippford Week fast handicap class, and then Mitchell getting first and Richard Phillips second in the RNLI Regatta.

Finn Open, gybe mark in the gloom during Solway YC Kippford Week - photo © Becky Davison

Usually the highlight of sailing in Kippford, 2018 will be remembered for some of the worst Kippford Week weather in years but at least enough racing had been completed for trophies to be awarded and a celebration of what was achieved.

Finn Class Open Results:

1st Fergus Allen (Loch Earn Sailing Club)
2nd Richard Phillips (Christchurch Sailing Club)
3rd Stewart Mitchell (Solway Yacht Club / Annandale Sailing Club)

Kippford Week Overall Results: (top three in each class)

Handicap 1 (fast)
1. Rhys Williams (Laser)
2. Stewart Mitchell (Finn)
3. Matt Murray-Downing (Contender)

Handicap 2 (medium)
1. Stewart Biggar (Laser 4.7)
2. John Broadbent and Ben Horwood (GP14)
3. Emily Biggar and Ruben Stokroos (420)

Handicap 3 (slow)
1. Hamish and Sally MacKay (Mirror)
2. Philippa Howie and Louisa Birdsall (RS Feva)
3. Rebecca Coles and Verity Rogerson (Mirror)

Laser Radials
1. Duncan Blandford
2. Hamish Williams
3. Finlay Train

Flying Fifteen (keelboats)
1. Colin Filer and Jamie Gascoigne
2. Scott Train and Anne Stewart
3. Jim Holland and Dewi Williams

Cruisers
1. Angus Campbell and David Harding
2. David Henderson and David Bennett
3. John Searle and Gareth Jones

Soggy Sailors show off their trophies in the pouring rain at Solway YC Kippford Week - photo © Beatrice Overend

A separate event on Thursday, the Kippford RNLI Regatta Races, saw many of the same crews taking to the water along with several new faces but now in comparatively benign, much lighter winds. With long courses set the fleet enjoyed more competitive racing. Regatta prize-giving followed with Gareth Jones, Operations Manager, Kippford RNLI presenting the trophies. In return, Ian Purkis, Commodore of the Solway Yacht Club, presented him with a cheque, as is now tradition, the total of all the entry fees paid by competitors.