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Published: 21 February 2026

Please find attached the Ministry of Defence notification update of live firing for February 2026. Our notification now provides information on the danger area.

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Published: 10 February 2026

Please find attached the Ministry of Defence notification update of live firing for February 2026. Our notification now provides information on the danger area.

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Published: 06 February 2026

Solway Yacht Club's Prize-giving party for 2025

by Ian Purkis

The 2025 Prize and Award winners of Solway YC © Nicola McColm

As is now customary, the Club held its annual mid-winter party, celebrating everyone who had participated on and off the water during the previous year, whether dinghy racing, support crews manning safety boats, cruising in bigger boats, or just helping the Club.

The event, held in the Village Hall, followed the Kippford RNLI's Soup and Sandwiches fund-raising lunch with many members supporting both and with which the Club has a long and close association.

With around sixty members present, the afternoon started with a welcome from the newly elected Commodore, Scott Train. The previous Commodore Scott McColm then gave a repeat showing of his AGM Report from last November, highlighting all the Club's and members' progress over the year. Concluding his two years in office, Scott Train presented him with his Commodore's pennant, to be proudly flown on special occasions.

Social Secretary, Liz Train presents Toby Iglehart with the Tordoff Cup, 2025 Club Champion - photo © Nicola McColm

It was then time for Prize-Giving proper with Scott Train presenting the results of all the Club's racing activities, starting with the river races last Easter and concluding with overall Club Championships. After an incredibly close series over many weeks, including courses out in the bay, long pursuit races and shorter river races, Toby Iglehart and Finn Harris were tied on equal points.

In the end, the Championship went to Toby but only on count-back. Both are Cadet members, so Toby also collected the Club Youth Championship trophy, and with both performing so well and being such good role models for the younger cadets, it is a great credit to them both. This was particularly reflected in them also being jointly awarded the Heather Dodds Sportsmanship Trophy for their fair but very competitive sailing, culminating in an incident at the final mark of the final course where no protest was needed, as it was resolved between the two of them.

Liz Train presenting Ida Iglehart with the Cadet Boat Handling Trophy - photo © Nicola McColm

Other awards went to Simon Blissett and Richard Bishop, Safety Boat helm and crew of the year respectively. David Reilly was recognised for his great support on the project to rebuild clubhouse facilities to accommodate the disabled, thanks to a grant from the Dumfries and Galloway Coastal Benefit Fund. Alec Glendinning was awarded the "Most adventurous passage" for his voyage around the Scottish coast from Port Edgar in the East to Kippford in the West aboard his 21ft Chinese junk rigged yacht "Tirrik". Peter Warner and Craig Fetherstonhaugh, joint owners, were awarded "Best Kept Yacht" for "Sonas of Craignish" while Kevin Farish got the similar "Best Kept Motorboat" award for "Serefe".

Liz Train presents Alec Glendinning with the Sunbird Trophy for his most adventurous passage aboard his 21ft junk rigged yacht Tirrik - photo © Nicola McColm

Saved to last was the most important award. Joanne Harris has served as the Club's Cadet Officer for the past seven years during which time several hundred young people have been introduced to sailing. Most go on, developing through the Club's progression scheme to club racing with several progressing further to racing and winning at Open level, others moving on to be Instructors and Senior Instructors, bringing television appearances, all building on the Club's continued success as one of Scotland's leading clubs.

Solway YC's Cadet Officer (2028-2025) with her award, flanked by son Finn, daughter Katie and joined by husband Mark - photo © Nicola McColm

Before her presentation, Willie Patterson, her predecessor and mentor, spoke very highly of her great achievements and the huge contribution she made, not just to the Cadets but to the whole Club and wider sailing community. All this came as a complete surprise to her; Scott Train then called forward two most important Cadets, her daughter Katie and son Finn, for them to present her with a superb Solway Yacht Club engraved vase and bouquet, to a standing ovation by many there. "Thank You Jo", what a great job done!

After all these and other awards, the members were treated to a delicious buffet prepared by Social Secretary, Liz Train and her team, before celebrations, fun and chat were enjoyed by adults and Cadets, well on into the evening.

Unable to attend the Solway YC prize-giving, a special presentation was made by the Sailing Secretary John Broadbent, and Cruising Secretary Neil Munro, to Peter Warner (centre) for the Best Kept Yacht in front of Sonas of Craignish - photo © Ian Purkis

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Published: 22 January 2026

Please find attached the Ministry of Defence notification update of live firing for December 2025. Our notification now provides information on the danger area.

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Published: 15 December 2025

Please find attached the Ministry of Defence notification update of live firing for December 2025. Our notification now provides information on the danger area.

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Published: 18 November 2025

Solway Yacht Club, building work underway to bring significant improvements

Caption: Solway Yacht Club member, Ian Purkis (right) hands the Building Standards (Scotland) approved plans for the project to Paul Widdowson, Director of South West Trades who are contracted to complete the work. (Photo: Robert Dinwiddie)	Caption: Members enjoying welcome hot soup and tray bakes in a busy Clubhouse after members’ recent Working Party day, thanks to Social Secretary Liz Train and her team (Photo: Ian Purkis)

Thanks to a substantial grant from the Dumfries and Galloway Coastal Benefit Fund, serious building alterations are now well underway to create a fully accessible changing, showering and toilet facility within the main Clubhouse. The Club’s project has also enjoyed funding from donors locally and further afield in Scotland making it all possible. Work actually started back in June when a working party of Club volunteers set to and prepared the site thanks to the support of Solway Plant Hire donating a day’s use of a mini digger. More recently another members’ working party had everything cleared away ready, coinciding with the end of the sailing season. Once completed, further improvements are anticipated to expand disabled accessibility both within the clubhouse and ultimately on the water.

Laura Cowan, RYA Scotland, Regional Development Officer (West), commented on the Club’s project, “Just back from annual leave, and this is great news to come back to, well done.  I look forward to seeing your new building’s progress when I visit for my Disability Awareness Training Session in March”.

Several times previously, the Club has hosted the annual Sailability Scotland’s Challenger Scottish Championships mainly, but not exclusively, for disabled sailors. The only way this was possible was with the great support of the Kippford Association in providing use of the Village Hall. However, with only a fully accessible toilet and no access to disabled changing or showering, the facility that could be provided was limited to the bare minimum. 

The Club plans to again host the Sailability Scotland’s Championships in 2027 and it will be a special occasion to see the new facility in use. 

This project also contributes to the safeguarding of our young Cadet members as the disabled facility can be separately used by adults when the main changing and showering facilities are reserved for the exclusive use of Cadets. This provides a double benefit which is hugely welcomed.

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Published: 01 September 2025

ILCA Lakeland and Borders Grand Prix Open, and the Palnackie Pursuit Race.

Reports by John Broadbent ILCA Grand Prix, Saturday 23rd August

Caption: ILCA Grand Prix winner, Toby Iglehart presented with his prizes by Scott McColm, Solway Yacht Club Commodore (Photo: Nicola McColm)	Caption: ILCA Grand Prix fleet chasing the leaders (Photo: Nicola McColm)	Caption: Crowded close racing round the Palnackie turning buoy (Photo: Claire Brown)

In near “Mediterranean” conditions of light and variable winds under a blue sky, Solway Yacht Club held its annual ILCA Grand Prix on Saturday 23rd August, with 15 entries from Solway YC and Annandale SC. The 7 “Grand Masters” (aged 55-65) were just outnumbered by the 8 “Youths” (5 boys and 3 girls all aged 14-16). Racing throughout the fleet of 3 full rig ILCA7s, 6 ILCA6s and 6 ILCA4s was extremely tight with different winners in each race. In the first race, Carol Beattie (ILCA7) established a good lead at the first mark and was never challenged. Toby Iglehart (ILCA6) came through to finish close on the water to Tony Bamforth (ILCA7) and so beat him on corrected time. Mike Adlen (ILCA7) established a similar good lead in the second race, winning by a good margin on the water from Carol, Trudie Mitchell (ILCA6) and Toby. On corrected time, this gave Trudie second place and Toby third. In the third race, Mike again got away to a good lead, but on the run in against the ever-strengthening tide, Toby showed his downwind skill and speed to win from Simon Wilson (ILCA6) with Mike third, while Carol and Tony were also close behind. This meant that after discards, Toby won from Mike, with Carol third. Thomas McKendrick won the prize for the first ILCA4.

Caption: Fast boat closing in on the Palnackie turning buoy with slower boats already round, heading downstream (Photo: Clair Brown)	Caption: Palnackie Pursuit race fast boats chasing up river after the first slower boats starting first (Photo: Avril Arkley)

Palnackie Pursuit, Sunday 24th August

The next day, 11 club members were joined by 4 Annandale members who had come over to sail in the ILCA Grand Prix, sailing 2 ILCAs and a GP14, to race in the annual Palnackie Pursuit. The race started at the Club jetty, with the slowest boats (ILCA4s) starting first and sailing for exactly 1hour, upstream in the windy river to a mark at Palnackie and then back down again towards the club. The starts of the other classes were calculated so that if all boats sailed to their handicaps, they would all reach the same point in the river 1 hour after the ILCA4 start. The wind was generally slightly stronger and steadier than it had been for the Grand Prix, but was still light and shiftier near the Palnackie turning mark. Toby Iglehart (ILCA6) overtook the ILCA4s before the turning mark and rounded first, but with Finn Harris (ILCA7), Stewart Biggar (ILCA6), Georgina Adlen (ILCA6) and Hamish and Rosie Mackay (Laser 2000 ) not far behind. Toby managed to extend his lead over the other ILCA6s and hold off the 2 faster boats (Finn and Hamish) on the way downstream. Finn unfortunately had had a rugby commitment that had prevented him competing alongside Toby against the adults in the Grand Prix!

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Published: 01 September 2025

Whitehaven August Cruise Report
22nd-25th August 2025

The late summer of 2025 saw a period of high pressure settle over the Solway Firth. Against a background of sun filled skies and light winds seven boats from Kippford and Kirkcudbright took part in the 22 mile crossing to Whitehaven marina. The marina manager very kindly repeated her ‘two for one night’ offer and several yachts took advantage of the same.

Unfortunately regular participants Esprit (Prout Snowgoose 37)  and Freebird (Moody 31 mark2) could not join the Kirkcudbright contingent this time but Stardust (Jaguar 25) and Verity (Golont Gaffer) left on the morning tide of Friday 22nd August. Stardust motored the whole way with the smallest member Verity (6m) following in her wake. Talada took the later ebb and picked up the evening lock gate opening at Whitehaven. She managed to find some wind on the later run and sailed most of the passage.

Installation of filtering equipment at Whitehaven marina has largely removed the ocre sediment (derived from underground and undersea mining tunnels) that has been troubling parts of the marina for some time. After berthing and refreshing the sailors took full advantage of the facilities that the Georgian town has to offer.

On Saturday 23rd August Bonaventure (Konsort Duo) and Louise (Hunter Minstrel) departed Kippford as soon as the tide permitted and again had an uneventful motor across the Solway interspersed with a brief period under sail. The wind proved too light for Luely (Sharpie). In addition Sonas (Macwester 27) had to pull out at the last minute. Misty (Moody 31 mark 2) did not make the outward journey but she joined the returning Kippford vessels on Sunday when sailing from Kirkcudbright. Serefe (Sealine 34) left Kippford shortly after midday and made a rapid crossing in near ideal conditions for motorboats

The Kippford yachts arrived in time to make the Saturday evening lock gates at Whitehaven. They joined the Kirkcudbright mariners aboard Talada for the customary champagne reception. The thirsty mariners polished off five bottles of champagne before venturing into the town in search of evening entertainment and sustenance.

Sunday 24th August proved another warm and relatively windless day.  Kippford and Kirkcudbright boats returned to their respective moorings with the yachts managing some sailing just outside Whitehaven. Misty met the returning fleet as she motored west from Kirkcudbright. Louise went on to Maryport to spend a tranquil night there before returning with better wind to Kippford on Monday 25th August.

This was the last cruise in company of 2025.

Neil Munro, member of SYC and KSC
27th August 2025

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Published: 18 August 2025

Solway Yacht Club’s Kippford RNLI Regatta and Kippford Week 

With a strong entry from sailors from around the UK, it was particularly pleasing to have many recent SYC Cadets moving up to the faster fleets, along with one GP14 crew from Sweden and Australian visitors, all arriving to enjoy great sailing on the “Scottish Riviera”. After Cadet Week when the tides were early, Kippford Week followed a fortnight later with late tides. Initially poor, the weather forecast was improving as the week progressed.

Caption: RNLI Regatta start from the start hut on Saturday for the cruiser fleet (Photo Duncan Gillespie)	Caption: RNLI Regatta start from the committee boat on Tuesday for the dingy fleet (Photo Duncan Gillespie)	Caption: RNLI Regatta start from the start hut on Saturday for the cruiser fleet (Photo Duncan Gillespie)

RNLI Regatta Cruisers Race:
This year the RNLI Regatta Race was unusually planned for the first day before Kippford Week, and with local radio promoting the event, everything was set for a great day on the water. Unfortunately, the weather had other ideas with the forecast strong winds putting everything in doubt. Sure enough, Saturday dawned very unsettled with gusts of over 30 knots so Principal Race Officer (PRO), Willie Patterson, decided it was only safe to run a race for the larger cruising yachts within the more sheltered River Urr Estuary. The dinghy fleet was stood down leaving it to just five cruisers taking to the start, others deciding the conditions were not for them. Nevertheless, a close race followed with all five never far apart, line honours going to Fiona and Gordon Blandford in their Hawk 20 but with the NHC handicapping applied, Gary, Avril and Katherine Arkley in another Hawk were declared the winners. To ensure the Regatta Race was still run for the dinghies, a race later in the week would be nominated as the dinghies’ RNLI race.

Caption: Varnish still tacky! James Bishop and Alex Lammie in James’ just refurbished Fireball (Photo Finlay Train)	Caption: Overall winners of HCP1 Fleet, Scott train and Anne Stewart Flying Fifteen (Photo: Margaret Purkis)	Caption: “Posers” of the week, Alex Noble and Huw Williams! (Photo: Finlay Train)

Kippford Week:
On Sunday, the main sailing week series got underway and in now near perfect conditions, a large and varied fleet took to the water, having a brisk sail out to the Committee Boat and the start line. A special two-minute silence was held before the first race in memory of the late Lindsay Tosh, a hugely popular and highly respected past commodore of the Club and previous Kippford Week PRO. Once the signal for the end of the silence sounded, the starting sequence started with the fast handicap (HCP1) fleet including the Flying Fifteens going first, slower handicap (HCP2) next and third, the now full turn-out of the cruiser fleet. Race one had the HCP1 fleet on the two long laps out between Castle Point and White Port Bay while the HCP2 fleet were on a shorter course. Meanwhile the cruisers were further out into the Solway. HCP1 winner was the Flying Fifteen of Scott Train and Anne Stewart with Ian Holden and Peter Nelson second in their RS400, while Hamish and Sally Mackay in their Laser 2000, rather cheesily renamed “Acturrly Ourr Lazurr”, won HCP2. Race two and both HCP fleets sailed the shorter courses, and again the Scott Train / Anne Stewart crew won HCP1, but this time Andrew and Liz Bell in their Albacore were second with the Mackays again winning HCP2. The one Cruiser race went to Richard Carson with his crew of Ian Coke and Lewis Carson in another Hawk 20.

Day two and light winds beckoned with warm sunshine. With a few needing a tow out to the Committee Boat, there were repeat HCP1 wins for Scott and Anne’s Flying Fifteen, Ian Holden and Pete Nelson having another second in their RS400. Hamish and Sally’s Laser 2000 won the first race in HCP2 but were beaten into second by 2024 Club and Cadet Champion Toby Iglehart’s ILCA 6 in the second race of the day. The Cruisers race was again won by the Carson crew.

Caption: John Searle and Gareth Jones with a big lead on the water (Photo: Finlay Train)	Caption: one of the Hawks going steadily (Photo Finlay train)	Caption: All the winners, Kippford Week 2025 (Photo: Nicola McColm)

Tuesday was nominated as the replacement day for the dinghies’ RNLI race, but it would also count as one of the main Kippford Week series. An additional boat that had only entered the Regatta race joined the main fleet, particularly welcome as entry fees for this annual race are always donated to the Kippford RNLI. In warm sunshine and light winds, the fleet had a rather slow but no less competitive race with boats ghosting round the course with frequent position changes while crews searched out the patches of wind round the bay. Once again, the Flying Fifteen of Scott and Anne sailed where they found the wind to win in HCP1, with the HCP2 race going to the Mackays. The cruisers found it tricky sailing in the light stuff with only four finishers, the race going to Gary and the Arkley family crew.

Back to two races on Wednesday with a pleasant breeze in more warm “Riviera” sun. By now the Train / Stewart Flying Fifteen was dominating the HCP1 fleet with back-to-back wins, although the other “podium” places were being closely contested. HCP2 fleet was getting competitive with John Broadbent and Louise Allen getting their first win of the week in the trusty GP14. Nevertheless, it was back to winning ways for Hamish and Sally in the second HCP2 race of the day. In the Cruisers’ race it was a first win for Angus Campbell and crew, Anna Dawson and Christine Smith in yet another Hawk.

Onto Thursday and the now very late tide meant just one race to round off the series. To complete their clean sweep, Scott and Anne’s Flying Fifteen was again superbly sailed to the hugely deserved HCP1 series win. The final HCP2 race was again won by the Mackay father and daughter crew with the final cruiser race going to Fiona and Gordon, their Hawk getting a well-deserved first handicap win. 

Caption: Callum McRobert, best under 15 Cadet, with Club Commodore, Scott McColm (Photo: Nicola McColm)	Caption: Sue Frayling-Cork (nee Rickerby) presented Gordon Daly with “Sue’s Spoon” trophy in company of Scott Train, SYC Commodore (Photo: Nicola McColm)	Caption: Commodore Scott McColm presents Fiona Blandford with the greatest contribution trophy, keeping the bar stocked and much more, including sailing! (Photo: Nicola McColm)

That was the sailing, but Kippford Week is famous for its superb social events. Sunday night was the traditional Commodore’s Reception with a superb buffet and great socialising with friends old and new. Monday a very well supported quiz and Tuesday the barbecue and games, many enjoying the balmy evening on the club lawn until late. Wednesday was “Race Night” with several helms and crews bravely trading boats for, and “riding”, miniature wooden racehorses. Race wins went to jockeys with familiar faces but very unfamiliar names, not least “Thunderpants”, culminating in a closely contested, raucously supported final! 

After sailing on Thursday, it was the serious business of the Prizegiving. With the Club’s stunning collection of silverware going to the winners along with commemorative prizes, there were the special trophies and prizes for the best SYC Cadet, Toby Iglehart; the best u15 Callum McRobert; the outstanding performance, Scott Train; the best presented boat, the beautiful 1956 built Firefly of Alex Cleaver; Fiona Blandford for her greatest contribution of the week, and not forgetting Alex Noble and Huw Williams, “posers” of the week in their Dart 18, thanks to them speeding around everywhere but rarely where the course intended! 

Finally, there was a special new trophy, “Sue’s Spoon”. After a chance meeting with past Commodore Ian Purkis, Sue (nee Rickerby) had been welcomed back to the Club last year after an absence of more than sixty years. She’d sailed with her father Joe in the 1950s and had only ever won a silver teaspoon with the Club’s enamel burgee on the handle, donated to the Club last year. For 2025, it had been incorporated onto a new solid yew wood model yacht trophy to be presented to the most senior helm of the week. In graciously accepting the award, Flying Fifteen helm Gordon Daly claimed to be twenty-five years old with another sixty years’ experience and recalled how he too had enjoyed sailing with Sue’s father back then. 

Caption: Winners of the cruiser fleet, Richard Carson and Ian Coke (Photo: Nicola McColm)	Caption: Overall winners of the Handicap 1 fleet, Scott Train and Anne Stewart with Commodore Scott McColm (Photo: Nicola McColm)	Caption: Cruisers are off (Photo Duncan Gillespie)

KIPPFORD RNLI REGATTA RESULTS:
Handicap 1 (HCP1)
1st Scott Train and Anne Stewart (Flying Fifteen)
2nd Graham Young (RS Aero)
3rd Steve Gaughan and Beatrice Overend (Osprey)
4th Ian Holden and Pete/Nicola Nelson (RS400)
5th Andrew and Liz Bell (Albacore)
6th Andrew Johnson and Anna Milne (Flying Fifteen)
7th Keith Veasey (Finn)
8th Claire Stewart and Ellie Young (RS200)
9th John Sproat and Chris Nurney (Flying Fifteen)
10th Scott McColm (Finn)
11th Katie Bishop and Nicola McColm (RS400)
12th Gordon Daly and Jamie Gascoigne (Flying Fifteen)
13th Ellie Rowand and Lilli Bell (Fireball)
14th James Bishop and Alex Lammie (Fireball)
15th Katie Harris and Tamsin Wallace (RS200)
16th Alex Noble and Huw Williams (Dart 18)

HCP2
1st Hamish and Sally Mackay (Laser 2000)
2nd Toby Iglehart (ILCA6)
3rd Simon Roberts (ILCA7)
4th Alex Cleaver and Emma Fairhurst (Firefly)
5th Tony and Peter Bamforth (GP14)
6th Anna Griffin (ILCA6)
7th Hamish MacDonald (ILCA6)
8th Simon Wilson (ILCA6)
9th John Broadbent and Louise Allen (GP14)
10th Finn Harris (ILCA6)
11th Mark Lewis and Joe Barnes (GP14)
12th James Colbeck (ILCA6)
13th Grant MacDonald (ILCA6)
14th Callum McRobert (ILCA6)
15th Emma Lane (ILCA6)
16th Grant MacDonald (ILCA6)
17th Ida Iglehart and Elise Reilly (RS Feva XL)

Cruisers (NHC Handicap)
1st Gary, Avril and Katherine Arkley (Hawk 20)
2nd John Searle and Gareth Jones (Pegasus 800)
3rd Ronnie Coutts and Mark Harris (Sadler 29)
4th Richard Carson, Ian Coke and Lewis Carson (Hawk 20)
5th Fiona and Gordon Blandford (Hawk 20)

KIPPFORD WEEK RESULTS:
Handicap 1 (HCP1)
1st Scott Train and Anne Stewart (Flying Fifteen)
2nd Ian Holden and Pete/Nicola Nelson (RS400)
3rd Andrew and Liz Bell (Albacore)
4th Graham Young (RS Aero)
5th Andrew Johnson and Anna Milne (Flying Fifteen)
6th Keith Veasey (Finn)
7th Steve Gaughan and Beatrice Overend (Osprey)
8th Scott McColm (Finn)
9th John Sproat and Chris Nurney (Flying Fifteen)
10th Katie Bishop and Nicola McColm (RS400)
11th Katie Harris and Tamsin Wallace (RS200)
12th Ellie Rowand and Lilli Bell (Fireball)
13th Claire Stewart and Ellie Young (RS200)
14th James Bishop and Alex Lammie (Fireball)
15th Finlay Train and Hannah Davison (RS200)
16th Alex Noble and Huw Williams (Dart 18)
17th Matt Murray-Downing (Contender)
18th Doug Dinwiddie and Olivia Cleaver (RS400)
19th Richard and Emily Colbeck (Buzz)
20th Gordon Daly and Jamie Gascoigne (Flying Fifteen)

Handicap 2 (HCP2)
1st Hamish and Sally Mackay (Laser 2000)
2nd Toby Iglehart (ILCA6)
3rd Simon Roberts (ILCA7)
4th Stephen Brisley (ILCA7)
5th Tony and Peter Bamforth (GP14)
6th Finn Harris (ILCA6)
7th John Broadbent and Louise Allen (GP14)
8th Alex Cleaver and Emma Fairhurst (Firefly)
9th Anna Griffin (ILCA6)
10th Hamish MacDonald (ILCA6)
11th Mark Lewis and Joe Barnes (GP14)
12th Simon Wilson (ILCA6)
13th James Colbeck (ILCA6)
14th Lucy Geffray (ILCA6)
15th Callum McRobert (ILCA6)
16th Ian Briggs (ILCA6)
17th Emma Lane (ILCA6)
18th Ida Iglehart and Elise Reilly (RS Feva XL)
19th Grant MacDonald (ILCA6)
20th Aleksei Wishart (Laser Pico) 

Cruisers (NHC Handicap)
1st Richard Carson, Ian Coke and Lewis Carson (Hawk 20)
2nd Gary, Avril and Katherine Arkley (Hawk 20)
3rd Angus Campbell, Anna Dawson and Christine Smith (Hawk 20)
4th John Searle and Gareth Jones (Pegasus 800)
5th Fiona and Gordon Blandford (Hawk 20)
6th Ronnie Coutts and Mark Harris (Sadler 29)
7th Neil and Heather McCormack (Sunfast 20)

A very special Clubs’ Commodore; the late Lindsay Tosh’s final voyage.

Caption: Alicat at anchor while members of Lindsay Tosh’s family prepare to scatter his ashes and drop their flowers onto the sea; two of the members' flotilla boats nearby. (Photo: Margaret Purkis)

Caption: Solway Yacht Club (SYC) and Annandale Sailing Club (ASC) Commodores past and present. Left to right, John Broadbent (SYC), Ian Purkis (SYC), Willie Patterson (ASC), Stewart Biggar (SYC), Scott Train (SYC), Robert Dinwiddie (with flag, SYC) Maureen Scott (SYC), Trudie Mitchell (current ASC Commodore), Tony Bamford (ASC), Elaine Ross (ASC), Carol Beattie (ASC), Stephen Hinton Smith (ASC) and Scott McColm (current Commodore SYC) (Photo: John Sproat)

After all the racing was over for another year’s Kippford Week and the Kippford RNLI Regatta, a large number of members of both the Solway Yacht Club and Annandale Sailing Club got together in Kippford for a final farewell to Lindsay Tosh. He was a highly respected and popular member and uniquely had served as Commodore of BOTH in years past. Being highly active in the life of both clubs, on the water, as well as sailing, he’d been Principal Race Officer for many Open and Club events. Off the water he'd served the clubs in various other capacities, providing huge assistance and support to other Flag Officers and Committee members. 

It was his final wish to have his ashes scattered onto the sea off Kippford with members of his family and both clubs present, including as many previous Commodores as possible, as well as the two current ones. With three generations of the Tosh family aboard the Solway Yacht Club’s big catamaran Alicat a whole flotilla left the Club pontoon in a respectful convoy, several under sail, most motoring out into the bay off Glenn Isle, many more watching from ashore. With Alicat anchored and when family members were ready, Lindsay’s ashes were scattered onto a calm sea in glorious summer sunshine. The ashes were followed by sunflowers and roses dropped in by family members, drifting out to sea on the ebb tide.

Back ashore, afternoon tea was served in the Solway Yacht Club’s clubhouse so everyone could meet Jacquie, her and Lindsay’s daughter Rosslyn, son Murray and all their families. 

Farewell to Lindsay, you’re greatly missed by everyone and will never be forgotten. Thank you from us all.

Details

Published: 29 July 2025

Caption: Anastasia Yaoyao, top female helm finished 4th overall in HCP1 (Photo Finlay train)	Caption: Overall winner in fast handicap fleet, Finn Harris going well (Photo Finlay Train)	Caption: HCP1 race start; very close and competitive (Photo: Finlay Train)

Cadet Week 2025; great fun learning and the closest of competition across the racing fleet

With an unusually late Tuesday start, necessitated by tide times, almost seventy young people gathered at the Solway Yacht Club for the annual Cadet Week. Monday was spent with onshore activities before the evening briefing covering the activities afloat to follow. Cadet Officer Jo Harris led the session while Training Officer, Emma McRobert, introduced the Senior Instructor, young James Bishop, supported by his team of Dinghy Instructors, nearly all of whom had been SYC Cadets themselves in recent years. It was then the turn of the four Cadet Captains to stand up for introduction. All fifty plus Cadets were divided into teams, led by their Cadet Captain, for fun on and off the water but also to ensure their needs were being met, particularly acting as role models for the younger ones.

Caption: Senior Instructor, James Bishop (far left) with other instructors and successful  Cadets with the completed RYA certificates and log-books. (Photo Nicola McColm)	Caption: Cadet Officer Joanne Harris presents Ida Iglehart with her HCP3 trophy after her clean sweep winning every race in her Topper (Photo Nicola McColm)	Caption: Finn Harris presented with his overall HCP1 trophy by Cadet Officer, Joanne Harris assisted by Commodore Scott McColm (Photo Nicola McColm)

As in previous years, Cadets were gathered in six groups ranging from absolute beginners (the red caps), year two beginners, (the burgundy caps), next the improvers, (the white caps), then the coached racers (the blue caps) and leading to the year 1 & 2 racers (the black caps), finally the green caps, the third year plus, the “out and out” experienced racers. The value of the Club’s progression scheme is immediately obvious when nearly all the racers had been trained and coached through the various ability levels over previous years. 

With an early start on Tuesday, the black and green caps set off to the race area out in the bay while others started or resumed their training from previous years. In near perfect weather, warm but not hot, a 15mph wind, and bright skies, Race Officer Stewart Biggar set a figure of eight course and the serious business got underway. Elsewhere capsize drill was demonstrated before trainees ventured out under sail.

Caption: The cadets were the stars of the show, but these are the three who made it all possible: Cadet Officer Joanne Harris (left) with Commodore Scott McColm and training Officer, Emma McRobert (Photo Nicola McColm)	Caption: 2025 Cadet Week Trophy Winners on the lawn after their prize giving. (Photo: Nicola McColm)	Caption: The Red Caps, complete beginners training starts ashore (Photo:: Nicola McColm)

Out in the bay, the racers were having their own private battles, fast handicap (HCP1) leaders Finn Harris and Toby Iglehart were in close contention throughout, first one, then the other ahead. At the final turning buoy, it was Finn who got the better and led to win race 1. Further down multiple rivalries were being played out leading to exciting racing throughout the fleet. Race two was similar, again with Finn getting the win. The first and second medium handicap (HCP2) races were won by Lucy Leyshon and Katie Brown respectively, with both slow handicap (HCP3) wins going to Ida Iglehart.

Day two and similar near ideal conditions had the competition resume. In a reversal of fortunes, Toby got the wins in both races in the HCP1 with Finn second. In HCP2, Thomas McKendrick won race three, Lucy having to settle for second but restored her winning ways with Jess Brown second in Race four.

The evening highlight was the annual Cadet Dinner with participants dressed in their finest, served by the Club’s Flag Officers. Once the meal was cleared away, caller Ross Kennedy led another great Ceilidh ensuring dancing and fun until time was called to end a great day.

Caption: Basic instruction afloat, Dinghy Instructor Katie Bishop and Assistant Instructor Scott Train with two Red Caps (Photo Nicola McColm)	Caption: Year 2 (Burgundy Cap) trainee going very nicely (Photo Nicola McColm)	Caption: White Caps (Improvers) getting to grips with rounding a buoy (Photo Nicola McColm)

With the TV camera present on Thursday, James Bishop, the Senior Instructor, and two more young instructors, Sally Mackay and Katie Harris, were interviewed while the fleet was busy getting rigged. With safety boats on the water, launching started, then short tacking out against the flood tide to the race area was all caught on film. This was the day of the single Scauronian long distance race and Toby Iglehart reestablished his winning run while Finn Harris had to settle for second. In HCP2 Katie Brown got the win with Lucy Leyshon second, while in HCP3 Ida maintained her 100% wins record so far with Murray McKendrick second again.

In contrast to the previous evening’s formalities, it was “Mudlarks” night. Low water had the mudbanks and gulleys all exposed as fifty Cadets, instructors and even a few slightly reluctant Club officers took to the mud for tug o’ war, capture the flag and more. A great Solway YC Cadet Week tradition where enthusiasm (and the mud) never wavers!

Back to the sailing, coaching and instruction and the battle between Toby and Finn in HCP1 couldn’t have been closer. Toby won the first race of the day, Finn second. Race two and again placings reversed. In HCP2, Katie Brown won the first race, but Thomas McKendrick got his first win of the week in the second. Ida continued her dominance in HCP3.

While all this had been going on, the Blue Caps (Coached Racers) had been developing their race craft under the guidance of Pip Benson, herself a highly experience racing sailor. They had been holding their own series of races with Abi Farrel winning three times and Alex Andrews and Marissa Farrel winning the second race of the series. Similarly, the Red and Burgundy caps had been learning the ropes and building their confidence every day, thanks to their instructors and assistants. 
 
The final day and still everything to race for in both HCP 1 and 2. With only one race, the battle between Toby and Finn was as close as ever; whoever won the race, won the week. When it really mattered, Finn got the win and so congratulations to him. In HCP2 while Katie Brown was only third in the final race, her three wins earlier got her the overall HCP2 fleet win. Jess Brown came good and won the final race, giving her fourth overall and with all four of the top sailors getting one or more wins, HCP2 was the most widely competitive fleet. While Ida had already won HCP3, she completed her clean sweep, winning every race during the whole week.

During the week, the Blue Caps (coached racers) had their own races from the Committee Boat giving them race starting and tactics experience. On the final day, the White Caps too, (the Improvers) had several short races run from the Club Race Officer’s Box, “The Starting Hut”, teaching them the starting procedure and signals, adding to their experience.

Caption: The Black and the Green caps; the racers! (Photo: Finlay Train)	Caption: James Bishop, Senior Instructor, being interviewed by Sandy McCracken of Border Television while cameraman Mike gets it all recorded. (Photo Finlay Train)	Caption: Glorious Kippford evening with the delights of “Mudlarks”! Tug o’ War about to start! (Photo Finlay Train)

Racing fleets results: (Green caps and Black caps) 

Handicap 1 (All ILCA 6 boats)
1st Finn Harris
2nd Toby Iglehart
3rd Murray Wilson
4th Anastasia Yaoyao
5th James Colbeck
6th Callum McRobert
7th Connor Rennie
8th Jack Johnstone

Handicap 2 (All ILCA 4 boats)
1st Katie Brown
2nd Lucy Leyshon
3rd Thomas McKendrick
4th Jess Brown
5th Breagha Johnstone
6th Callum McRobert (changed to HCP1 after two races)

Handicap 3
1st Ida Iglehart (Topper)
2nd Murray McKendrick (Topper)
3rd Maria McMiken and Hannah O’Dwyer (RS Feva XL)
4th Elise Reilly and Frazer McFadzean (RS Feva XL)

Blue Caps Coached Racers Short Series
1st Abi Farrel (ILCA 6)
2nd Alexander Andrews and Marissa Farrel (RS Feva XL)
3rd Liam McMiken (Topper)
4th Henry Farrant (Pico)
5th Heidi Farrel & Charlotte Andrews (RS Feva XL)
6th Lachlan Ross (Pico)
7th Darcy Gibson and Abbie McRobert (RS Feva XL)

White Caps (Improvers) Races
Race winners: Thomas Barton and Lucy Johnstone, 
Lili Cowan, 
Eddie Carter and Lacy Paterson

Racers: Leah Malloy, Thomas Farrant, Caitlin Ferrier, Elsbeth Dorian, 
Katie Gascoigne, Erin McKendrick, Oliver Bell, Clementine Greaves, 
Bertie Carter and Orla O’Dwyer.