Annandale Sailing Club 70th Anniversary Regatta
by Carol Beattie 30 Jun 07:15 BST
27-28 June 2026
Elaine Wheeler and Trudie Mitchell during the Annandale Sailing Club 70th Anniversary Regatta © Ally Brown
Annandale Sailing Club celebrated its 70th anniversary with a memorable - and very windy - weekend of events.
The Anniversary Regatta on Saturday saw 17 boats launch on a gusty Castle Loch, including visitors from Solway Yacht Club and Loch Ryan sailing club in Stranraer.
Race Officer Willie Patterson ran three back-to-back races in hugely challenging conditions, with the strongest gusts recorded reaching 30 knots.
There were numerous capsizes, a few equipment breakages, and several retirals, with only five boats finishing all three races.
They were: 1st Finn Harris, Solway Yacht Club; 2nd Elaine Wheeler and Trudie Mitchell, ASC; 3rd Thomas McKendrick, ASC; 4th Katie Brown, ASC and 5th Anastasiya Yaoyao, ASC.
Around 60 guests gathered for an Anniversary party at Kirkmichael Hall, Parkgate on Saturday evening. Club Commodore Trudie Mitchell presented the Regatta prizes and welcomed guests who included 11 past commodores, former and current members.
After a delicious meal laid on by club member Steph Bamforth and team, past Commodore Willie Patterson gave a potted history of the club, and long-standing member and 16-times Club Champion John Broadbent was awarded an Honorary Membership. Dancing continued until midnight, courtesy of RK DJ.
On Sunday there was a lunchtime gathering to finish off the leftovers and mull over the night before, before Race Officer Tony Bamforth organised two "fun" pursuit races. Again, there were some hefty gusts but a good number of boats took part and enjoyed a blast around the loch, with many taking a dip into it too. Elaine Wheeler and Erin McKendrick won the first race in their Mirror and David Richardson won the second in his Finn.
A busy weekend of thrills and spills on the water, and socialising off it, ensured the club's 70th anniversary was honoured with joy, team spirit and camaraderie.
For information about the club, how to join, or to apply for a place on this year's summer training course (July 13th to 17th) see annandalesailingclub.myclubhouse.co.uk