Solway Yacht Club opens new fully accessible disabled clubhouse during annual Open Day
by Ian Purkis 18 May 11:44 BST
Davie Stitt, Chairman of the Stewartry Sports Council, cuts the ribbon - Solway YC opens new fully accessible disabled clubhouse © Finlay Train
On top of another day of competitive racing, the club had chosen this day to formally open its new fully accessible disabled clubhouse facility.
In front of a party of invited guests, Club Commodore Scott Train welcomed everyone, thanking them for coming and briefly outlining the Club's gratitude to the Dumfries and Galloway Coastal Benefit Fund grant that, along with generous donations from a number of individual members and match funding from Club reserves, had made the project possible. He then invited Councillor Davie Stitt, Chair of the local Stewartry Sports Council to formally "cut the ribbon" to open the facility.
After inspecting the new facility, the invited guests adjourned to the Gala tent on the Club lawn for tea and delicious scones and cakes.
"The best disabled facility of any club I've visited in Scotland; puts Solway Yacht Club way ahead of all the rest!" commented John McPartlin of Sailability Scotland, himself a disabled sailor.
Once socialising over the tea and cakes, project leader, Ian Purkis briefly spoke describing the successful grant application and all the valuable letters of support from the Stewartry Sports Council, Sailability Scotland, the Southwick and Colvend Community Council and RYA Scotland, all represented at the opening. Continuing, he referred to the project highlights and the great help and advice from the Club's delivery team of David Reilly, Scott Train, Scott McColm and Robert Dinwiddie.
Thanking the building contractors, South West Trades Limited, represented by Directors Paul Widdowson and Martin Stitt for the superb job that their company had done, Ian reflected on what a pleasure it had been to work with them and their team.
Earlier in the day, the competitive sailing season had reached races five and six in the early season Saturday series. Despite Spring sunshine, a surprisingly chilly wind from the South welcomed a varied fleet as the first race of the day got under way, race five in the series.
Colin Filer and Jamie Gascoigne made the perfect start in their Flying Fifteen but after being too early on the line and forced to circle back, the Osprey of Stephen Gaughan and Paul Bannister was soon giving chase. Further back the second Flying Fifteen of Scott and Finlay Train was leading the Rhys Williams' Blaze, Keith Veasey's Finn and Dewi Williams' ILCA7.
At the end of lap 1, Steve and Paul's Osprey wasn't far behind Colin and Jamie's transom. Lap two and the gap was closer but by lap three the Osprey was just ahead approaching "G" buoy. Rounding faster, Colin and Jamie were back on equal terms and sailing fractionally faster, just depriving Steve and Paul of "line honours" but only by one second.
In the day's second race, with the wind freshening, the older "Silver fleet" Flying Fifteen of father and son crew Scott and Finlay Train got the better of the rest and were leading Colin and Jamie at the end of lap 1. Steve and Paul in the Osprey were having a torrid time both they and Rhys' Blaze capsizing before recovering, albeit now out of contention.
At the line Colin and Jamie were back ahead but after handicap corrections, the race was Scott and Finlay's but only by the narrowest margin and not for the first of the day, another race settled by just one second! Completing the top three, third on handicap in both races went to Dewi Williams in his ILCA7.
Despite a poor forecast, Sunday dawned bright but still with the chilly wind from the previous day. The Club's Open Day is always special giving members the opportunity to welcome and share the club with locals and visitors alike. By 11am, they were arriving in significant numbers of all ages. All were invited to go for a trip in turn round the estuary aboard Alicat, the club's large cruising catamaran, or go for a spin in a RIB, sampling the lovely views of Kippford from the water.
Despite the cold gusty wind making it inappropriate to take guests out under sail, two three-lap races were held for the Club cadets, the course set along the waterside to give visitors the best view. Club Champion Toby Iglehart and Finn Harris provided a demonstration of close racing while one or two others had capsized, keeping those ashore enthralled. Meanwhile back in the clubhouse more delicious cakes and tea were being enjoyed by everyone.
At the end of the day well over one hundred visitors had attended with almost half accepting the invitation to go afloat. Special thanks go to Liz Train and her catering team for the excellent catering over both days and to all the power boat helms and crews, particularly Rosie and Sally Mackay who additionally stepped in at very short notice to provide safety boat cover on Saturday.
Saturday Series race 5: (after handicap corrections)
1st Colin Filer and Jamie Gascoigne (Flying Fifteen)
2nd Scott and Finlay Train (Flying Fifteen)
3rd Dewi Williams (ILCA7)
4th Rhys Williams (Blaze)
5th Keith Veasey (Finn)
6th Stephen Gaughan and Paul Bannister (Osprey)
Saturday Series race 6:
1st Scott and Finlay Train (Flying Fifteen)
2nd Colin Filer and Jamie Gascoigne (Flying Fifteen)
3rd Dewi Williams (ILCA7)
4th Rhys Williams (Blaze)
5th Keith Veasey (Finn)
6th Stephen Gaughan and Paul Bannister (Osprey)
Open Day cadet race 1: (all sailing ILCA 4 or 6)
1st Toby Iglehart
2nd Ida Iglehart
3rd Finn Harris
4th Katie Brown
5th Jess Brown
6th Callum McRobert
7th Lucy Leyshon
8th Jack Johnstone
Open Day cadet race 2:
1st Toby Iglehart
2nd Finn Harris
3rd Katie Brown
4th Lucy Leyshon
5th Jess Brown
6th Callum McRobert