Solway Yacht Club welcomes the RYA Scotland Disability Awareness Training to Kippford
by Ian Purkis 23 Mar 09:58 GMT
21 March 2026
Members representing all the sailing clubs across the South West of Scotland, as well as members from the host club, gathered on the 21st March to participate in RYA Scotland’s Disability Awareness Training.
The aim was to bring the clubs in the region up to speed with the opportunities to involve those with disabilities in the sport of sailing and boating as well as ensuring those managing events are fully prepared to meet any additional needs that arise.
Welcomed by Scott Train, Commodore of the Solway Yacht Club, the course was run by Laura Cowan of RYA Scotland and in preparation, everyone was invited to wear odd socks to mark Down’s Syndrome Day. This got proceedings off to a great start as well as everyone having a bit of fun.
The Club recently completed a project to provide basic disabled facilities, only made possible thanks largely to a fantastic grant from the Dumfries and Galloway Coastal Benefit Fund. A few days earlier, the building contractors, South West Trades Ltd, had handed over the project to the Club, ready for use. Participants on the course were invited to view these and were delighted to see the completed work. A number of suggestions were made to add detail items to improve them further, welcomed by representatives of the Club.
An official opening of the new clubhouse facilities is to be held on 16th May when everyone directly involved in the project will be invited to celebrate what has been achieved. More is planned for the future, extending provision further. Nevertheless, as the Club has already agreed to host the 2027 Sailability Scotland Championships when the new facility will mean that competitors will be able to enjoy what has been needed for a long time. The Club hopes the changes now made will mean a growing number of disabled sailors come to the event and lead to greater involvement in all the Club activities.