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.