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Kippford RNLI Regatta Race Is Stunning Finale to Week of racing

After weather related disruption last year, it was now back to being held as the “finale” to Kippford Week. The Regatta is one race on a long course with all entry fees and donations being presented to the local RNLI.

With another day of glorious sunshine, the wind initially seemed promising as all the crews, cruisers, Flying Fifteens and racing dinghies arrived in the start are now all under the ROs Lindsay Tosh and Willie Patterson. Several of the boats had new helmsmen or crews, the experienced winners of Kippford Week generously giving the less experienced the opportunity to improve from the experts or use their proven fast boats.

The larger yachts started first, led off by the Kippford “D” class lifeboat, and then it was a mass start for all the rest, excluding only the slow handicap fleet, sailing a shorter course. As the fleet approached the Castle Point windward mark, the wind dropped to almost nothing, leaving all but the few who managed to get clear round, wallowing about in the calm sea. Eventually, long after the leaders had disappeared to the White Port mark, the entire fleet got round but it left those at the tail end with no chance of a decent result. After White Port it was back across the estuary to “E” buoy before the course led inshore towards a few more course buoys to the finish at the Committee boat. With many taking two hours to complete the course, the tow home by the various safety boats against the ebb tide was a relief to most as another special RNLI Regatta day came to an end.

Caption: Scott Train (SYC Commodore) presents Gareth Jones (Kippford RNLI Operations Manager) with a substantial cheque with all the entry fees from the Regatta and donations from the recent SYC Challenger open meeting (Photo: Beatrice Overend)

Prizes were presented by Gareth Jones, the Kippford RNLI Operations Manager who spoke of the great support the Solway Yacht Club gives the Kippford RNLI. Afterwards, Scott Train, the Club Commodore, presented a substantial cheque for the Kippford RNLI to Gareth Jones.

John Searle (second from right) with his Regatta winning crew of Andrew Bodenham (centre) and Jock Wishart (second from left) flanked by Scott Train SYC Commodore (left) and Gareth Jones Kippford RNLI Operations Manager (far right) who presented the prizes. (Photo: Beatrice Overend)

Kippford RNLI Regatta Race Results:

 

Cruisers:

1st John Searle and crew Andrew Bodenham, Jock Wishart, and Gareth Jones (Pegasus 800)

2nd Robert Dinwiddie and David Wood (Hunter 20)

No other finishers

 

Flying Fifteens:

1st Colin Filer and Jamie Gascoigne

2nd Scott Train and Anne Stewart

3rd Graeme and Kimberley Benson

4th Andrew Johnston and Anna Grafton

 

Fast handicap

1st Richard and James Colbeck (Buzz)

2nd Ian Holden and Katie Bishop (RS400)

3rd Rhys Williams (ILCA 7 Laser)

4th Scott McColm (Finn)

5th Stewart Mitchell and Nicola McColm (RS400)

6th Keith Veasey (Finn)

7th Finlay Train (ILCA 7 Laser)

8th Stephen and Lynda Gaughan (Osprey)

 

Medium Handicap

 

1st Emily Biggar and Lewis Alexander (420)

2nd Mark Lewis and Beatrice Overend (GP14)

3rd Simon Wilson (ILCA 6 Laser Radial)

4th Stewart Biggar (Laser 4.7)

5th Ian & Margaret Purkis (Firefly)

6th Hamish MacDonald (ILCA 6 Laser Radial)

7th Katherine Kelly (ILCA 6 Laser Radial)

 

Slow Handicap

1st Sally and Hamish Mackay (Mirror)

2nd Tamsin Wallace and Elise Reilly (RS Feva XL)

3rd Toby & Ida Iglehart (RS Feva XL)

 

Best ILCA 6 Laser Radial award: Simon Wilson

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