Kippford Week and Kippford RNLI Regatta at Solway Yacht Club

by Ian Purkis 18 Aug 00:21 PDT 9-15 August 2026

Lots of sun, sea, lots of tide, not much wind but even an "inspirational" solar eclipse

After the fun of the Club's Cadet Week, it was time for more open competition of Kippford Week. With crews travelling to Kippford from as far as Aberdeen and the English Midlands, they joined the locals on Sunday 8th for the week's briefing. An early tide on Monday meant only one race was planned. With virtually no wind on the pier it was a tow out into the bay to find a pleasant sea breeze out in the firth.

Time on the water was limited so the week's sailing was soon under way. In the fast handicap HCP1 fleet, Tynemouth Sailing Club's Jacob and Kayleigh Ainsworth in their RS400 got their first win, followed by the similar boat of Ian Holden and Nicola Nelson of Scaling Dam Sailing Club. In the HCP2 fleet, local club members Hamish and Sally Mackay took their first win in their Laser 2000 class boat.

Day two and a similar situation with all the boats being towed out but the Committee Boat had found wind and once the fleet arrived, it looked promising. With the Flying Fifteens and cruisers away on their long course the two dinghy handicap fleets started on the same course out to Castle Point and across to Whiteport before heading back into the firth. Sadly, the wind didn't hold and while the cruisers accepted the Race Officer's offer of counting the result as their positions on the water, the fiercely competitive Flying Fifteens declined trying to race to the finish but in vain. The lack of wind and ebb tide left them all as DNFs. Further inshore the dinghies struggled on and with just a few zephyrs of wind nearly all the fleet reached the finish with only a small number falling victim to time limit so also getting a DNF.

Day three, "Eclipse Day". The first surprise was the Fireballs in the fast handicap fleet appeared to have changed their sail logo from the big orange fire ball to a black disc with just an orange solar corona showing at the edge, "inspirationally" renamed "Eclipsed balls" for the day! With a pleasant breeze, this time the fleet was able to sail out to the Committee boat and in warm sunshine again the cruisers and Flying Fifteens started first.

The two dinghy fleets then had their separate starts and headed off to Whiteport bay before turning East for Castle Point. After one big lap, the two fleets were back at the finish by the Committee boat before a shorter course was set for the second race. This time both the RS400s were totally eclipsed by the local cadet Finn Harris in his ILCA7, while the two "Eclipsed balls" had the third RS400 well and truly eclipsed further down the fleet, restoring some astronomical balance!

By the early evening the aromas of a superb barbecue were wafting up to a large number on the clubhouse balcony most looking through SolarOptics glasses at the amazing sight of the real eclipse. Once over and with the sun setting, the food was served, and then it was back to the bar for a highly sociable evening.

Thursday and two more races for the separate fleets, although initially in light winds the fleet had no need for a tow out. The cruisers and Flying Fifteens were again first away before two separate courses for the two dinghy handicap fleets were set, the Race Officer anxious to get the two scheduled races completed. The fast HCP1 fleet were again sailing out of the firth before the HCP2 fleet followed five minutes later across the start line. Andrew and Liz Bell (Albacore) and Stewart Mitchell (Finn), both got their first HCP1 wins of the week.

As the boats were being hauled up the slipway, one of the club safety boats, still afloat, picked up a Pan-Pan radio call from the Coastguard for a group of kayakers in trouble off Southerness requiring urgent assistance. Manned by the Club's Safety Boat Officer, Richard Bishop he immediately responded and assisted the Kippford RNLI in a rescue of six including a young child.

Friday, the final day and again pleasant light winds so once more the Committee Boat anchored well out in the firth and set separate courses for the cruisers and Flying Fifteens, plus HCP1 and HCP2, the difference being two legs repeated for the faster boats with two long reaching legs.

Race 2, the final one of the series, and this time it was a simple windward-leeward course for both dinghy fleets. As the race was nearing its end, the wind picked up and caught out at least one tired helm capsizing not far from the finish. Despite being carried further away on the ebb tide, grit and determination saw him recover to finish to a rousing cheer from the Race Committee. With the wind increasing further, more drama as the fleet was sailing home; one of the GP14s had a nasty capsize while a Hawk 20 got into difficulties and ended on the rocks off the Almorness peninsula. After several minutes when the falling tide threatened to leave the boat stranded, a big effort from the crew and a safety boat, she was towed off into deep water before a slow tow back to her mooring, fortunately with minimal damage.

With awards made to all the winners, the final trophy, the Outstanding Achievement Prince Of Wales Cup was awarded to Jacob and Kayleigh Ainsworth, competing in Kippford for the first time in sixteen years.

Overall Results:

Kippford Week Handicap (HCP) 1 Fleet
1st Jacob and Kayleigh Ainsworth (RS400)
2nd Stewart Mitchell (Finn)
3rd Finn Harris (ILCA7)
4th Andrew and Liz Bell (Albacore)
5th Ian Holden and Nicola / Peter Nelson (RS400)
6th Simon Roberts (ILCA7)
8th Alex Cleaver and Emma Fairhurst (RS200)
9th Stephen Brisley (ILCA7)
10th Stephen Gaughan and Nathan Flaherty (Osprey)
11th Dewi Williams (ILCA7)
12th Richard and James Colbeck (Buzz)
13th Graham Young (RS Aero7)
14th Pete Balmforth (ILCA7)
15th Alex Noble (RS600)
16th Keith Veasey (Finn)
17th Ellie Young and Claire Stewart (RS200)
18th Chris Balmforth (ILCA7)
19th Ellie Rowand and Lilli Bell (Fireball)
20th James Bishop and Alex Lammie (Fireball)
21st Katie Bishop and Nicola McColm (RS400)

Handicap (HCP) 2 Fleet
1st Hamish and Sally Mackay (2000)
2nd Toby Iglehart (ILCA6)
3rd John Broadbent and Louise Allen (GP14)
4th Mark Lewis and Joe Barnes (GP14)
5th Simon Wilson (ILCA6)
6th Ian Purkis and Beatrice Overend (Firefly)
7th Emma Lane (ILCA6)
8th Ida Iglehart (ILCA4)
9th Hamish MacDonald (ILCA6)
10th Anna Griffin (ILCA6)
11th Thomas Barton (Pico)

Flying Fifteens
1st Scott Train and Anne Stewart
2nd Colin Filer and Jamie Gascoigne
3rd Andrew Johnson and Anna Milne
4th John Sproat and Chris Nurney

Cruisers
1st Fiona and Gordon Blandford (Hawk 20)
2nd Richard Carson and Iain Coke (Hawk 20)
3rd Angus Campbell and crew (Hawk 20)
4th Neil and Heather McCormack (Sunfast 20)

The Kippford RNLI Regatta Race

As a separate Solway Yacht Club event, attracting several new entrants and crew changes, it has by long tradition seen the Club donating all entry fees to the Kippford RNLI. Despite cooler overcast conditions, a light northerly took the fleet out to the Committee boat, now anchored close inshore with a course showing it was to be an around Hestan Island Race.

The RNLI crew were out in their D Class lifeboat Ronnie Sinclair, ready to lead the whole fleet off on the long course. The cruisers and Flying Fifteens got a clean start following the lifeboat but a different story for the HCP1 fleet. After two general recalls with many boats over the line twice, the Race Committee opted to start the HCP2 fleet next before finally getting the HCP1 fleet away cleanly.

As the combined fleets reached Almorness point the faster HCP1 boats were mixing it with the HCP2 fleet making for a crowded armada. Closing on Hestan Island the boats now had to judge how close to sail, too close in the lee of the high cliffs and close to the rocks of Daft Anne's Steps, too far offshore being the long way round. Once clear South, it became an upwind tacking race back to Almorness and finally to the finish at the Committee Boat, now anchored off Nets Buoy. Having switched fleets, the result was a fine HCP1 win for Hamish and sally Mackay, giving them a clean sweep over both events but the stars of the show were young Thomas and Jack, now double handed in their cleverly named Pico Usain Boat. At the prize-giving Commodore Scott Train congratulated them being the first ever to successfully complete a Hestan Island Race in a wee Pico.

Prizegiving was preceded by Gareth Jones, Kippford RNLI Operations Manager, thanking the Club and competitors for their support and highlighting the fantastic work the whole RNLI do, with over 17,000 incidents attended, 36,000 people aided but most important of all, 117 lives saved. Even the inshore Kippford lifeboat, a "D" Class, now costs more than £100,000 and the total cost of the whole RNLI is now a staggering £197,000,000.

At the conclusion of the prize-giving the final secret of the year was revealed. Philippa Howie, of RYA Scotland, gave a brief speech, highlighting the outstanding contribution made to the Club by Richard Bishop, manager of the Club's safety boat team in recent years. She then took great pleasure in presenting him with a special RYAS award in recognition. Joined by the rest of his family, Richard thanked the many volunteers who man safety boats over the year, without who sailing would not happen.

Kippford RNLI Race Results:

HCP1
1st Hamish and Sally Mackay (2000)
2nd Simon Roberts (ILCA7)
3rd Alex Cleaver and Joe Barnes (RS200)
4th Tony Bamforth (ILCA7)
5th Pete Bamforth (ILCA7)
6th Dewi Williams (ILCA7)
7th Andrew and Liz Bell (Albacore)
8th Stewart Mitchell (Finn)
9th Richard and James Colbeck (Buzz)
10th Steve Gaughan and Paul Bannister (Osprey)
11th Rhys Williams (ILCA8.1)
12th Alex Noble and two crew (Laser Bahia)
13th Katie & Finn Harris (RS200)
14th James Bishop and Alex Lammie (Fireball)
15th Katie Bishop and Nicola McColm (RS400)
16th James Kelly and Hannah Davison (Fireball)
17th Huw Williams and crew (Dart 18)

HCP2
1st Toby Iglehart (ILCA6)
2nd Simon Wilson (ILCA6)
3rd Emma Lane (ILCA6)
4th Anna Griffin (ILCA6)
5th Ian Purkis and Beatrice Overend (Firefly)
6th Hamish MacDonald (ILCA6)
7th Ida Iglehart (ILCA4)
8th Katie Brown (ILCA4)
9th Peter Haynes (Solo)
10th Lucy Leyshon (ILCA4)
11th Grant MacDonald (ILCA6)
12th Thomas and Jack Barton (Pico2)

Flying Fifteens
1st Scott Train and Anne Stewart
2nd Andrew Johnson and Anna Milne
3rd Colin Filer and Jamie Gascoigne
4th John Sproat and Chris Nurney

Cruisers
1st Richard Carson and Iain Coke (Hawk 20)
2nd Fiona and Gordon Blandford (Hawk 20)
3rd Angus Campbell and crew (Hawk 20)
4th Neil and Heather McCormack (Sunfast 20)