National Gill 12 Solway YC - Scottish wild cat bounce very much alive

by Ian Purkis on 4 Sep 2010 National Gill 12 Solway Yacht Club at Kippford.

With the Scottish regulars being joined by many of the leading Gill fleet crews, some who had driven many hundreds of miles, most arrived on a balmy Friday evening, keenly anticipating the weekend ahead.

Saturday dawned windy and with passing showers, the fleet launched for a fast sail out through the moored yachts to 'Rough Firth' the main sailing area.

Race 1 'Out of the Blue', Philip David and local crew Ailsa Ross were first to the windward mark, closely followed by the two Dead Cat Bounces of Steve and Joanne Sallis and Andy McKee and another local crew, Bronagh Gillespie.

After a good start the leading representative of the vintage fleet, Solway Vice Commodore Stewart Biggar and his crew Lynn Watt were mid fleet in 'Mock Turtle'. Going across the tide towards Rough Island, Steve Sallis took the lead but Andy was not far behind, with Philip keeping in touch with both of the DCBs.

This order was maintained to the finish but further down the fleet an epic battle had developed with Jerry and Margaret Garner, Neil McInnes and Rachel Dean, Angus and Rohan Beyts, Ian and Margaret Purkis and 'Mock Turtle' all vying for 10th place. Once clear, this was settled decisively in Jerry and Margaret’s favour, but sadly the vital 'Gaffer tape' gave up on 'Agent Orange' forcing the Beyts into retirement.

Race 2 saw the Sallis’ first out of the tide and storm off into a big lead, never to be challenged. With the tide ebbing by lap 2, the water was getting shallow fast at the wing mark making the Yeadon SC visitors, led by Howard Chadwick, crewed by local expert Fiona McCulloch, feel at home as centreboards grounded, but here it was on cockle beds rather than Yeadon’s trademark sunken shopping trollies!

The regular N12 / SYC Scottish social and barbecue was enjoyed by all into the 'wee small hours', shortly before sunrise on Sunday, bright but very breezy.

Increasing wind speed and forecast gusts of Force 8 left the PRO Duncan Gillespie slightly uneasy, but he had nothing to worry about – the leading crews were back on the water although several others gave it better and opted to stay dry.

By now the sail out was even faster and a pretty hairy run, but everyone on the water safely arrived at the start, but it was not to last. Another storming Sallis start came to nothing as Steve collected the warp holding the inner distance mark and upended, leaving Andy McKee, now crewed by another keen SYC member, Caitlin Ross, first round the windward mark and onto the reach but 100 yards later with the kicker still hard on, it all went wrong and the other Dead Cat Bounce was swimming. Philip David and Ailsa (Caitlin’s sister) were next to taste the Solway, with several others upending.

Meanwhile the Sallis’ had it all to do, starting dead last but rapidly making up places. By now Bernard Clark and Elaine Ross (Ailsa and Caitlin’s Mum) were leading but steep waves and vicious gust caught them out too.

This handed the lead to the superbly controlled Admiral’s Cup boat of Neal Piper and Nick Copsey, now leading the whole fleet, not just the Admiral’s Cuppers. Despite a really brave effort they couldn’t quite hold off the Sallis duo with Steve and Joanne beating them by a few seconds.

With the fleet by now severely depleted, all six finishers earned the admiration of the Committee Boat and shore teams, but the PRO decided enough was enough and all thoughts of Race 4 were abandoned. Despite a hard slog upwind back to the slipway, the glorious sunshine had Kippford sparkling and the rest of the afternoon to recover.

By the evening, the wind had dropped and most had opted to stay on locally overnight, retiring to The Anchor to nurse sore bones and enjoy the local hospitality.

Overall Result:

1. N 3531 Steve Sallis / Joanne Sallis, awarded Scottish Daily Express Championship Trophy
2. N3529 Andy McKee / Bronagh Caitlin
3. N3280 Neal Piper / Nick Copsey Admirals Cup Winners
4. N3472 Mark Simpson / Jane Daly
5. N3499 Philip David / Ailsa Ross
6. N3447 Bernard Clark / Elaine Ross
7. N3513 Chris Day / Sophie Richards
8. N3500 Jerry Garner / Margaret Garner
9. N3216 Neil McInnes / Rachel Dean
10. N3356 Howard Chadwick / Fiona McCulloch
11. N3411 Nick Copsey / Anthony Copsey, awarded Junior Prize
12. N3384 Ian Purkis / Margaret Purkis
13. N1620 Stewart Biggar / Lynn Watt
14. N3406 Angus Beyts / Rohan Beyts, awarded Scotland’s answer to the Burton Brick, The Ladybird Book of Sailing & Boating for having entered every Solway YC N12 Open in the last 10 years and maintaining his 100% record of never finishing a race!
15. N3426 Daniel Sallis / Carol Sallis

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