Solway YC Open Meeting

[angus]

I know you are all thinking about Burton at the moment but just a wee reminder that the second Scottish Open takes place on the 17th 18th September, this is a unique event with a river race one day, the Palnackie race and two sea races the other day. All three races are to count.
 

[Mark S (Guest)]

Hi Angus
We're hoping to come to Solway, but we're going to need either a crew or a child minder.  Do we still have the contacts at Solway, they usually do a good job finding crews?
Mark

[Roly Mo]

Unlikely to be there, which is a shame as it's one of our favourite venues. 
RM

[Chadders]

We are planning to be at Solway and so are Neil and Rachel, I know that Ian and Margaret will also be sailing, are you coming out Angus?  You may break your record and finish the event!

[angus]

I am hoping to put in an appearance, however breif if nobody has been knd enough to buy my boat before then. Ian Purkis is the man to contact regarding crews Mark, don't know if he can hepl with baby siters8)

[grazz]

Notes below from Ian Purkis on the format for this years event
 

Following last year’s great Gill Series event at Kippford,
organised by the Solway YC, the format is changing for the 2011 Scottish N12
Series event. 

With tides and conflicting dates making the normal 2 day
format near impossible, the opportunity is being taken to combine the N12 Open
with the long established and popular SYC upriver Palnackie Pursuit race. N12
class racing will be held in the bay on Saturday 17^th September with
racing scheduled to start at 1400. The courses and format are likely to be
similar to those in past events. 

The Palnackie Pursuit on Sunday 18^th usually has
its start line off the pier with the course being up to Palnackie to a turning
mark just outside the old harbour. The National 12s are likely to have their
own start after the rest of the fleet, led off by the Mirrors and Toppers,
making the most of the flood tide. Picking a course through the moored yachts
is the first challenge and without a Spring tide, the channel should at least
be visible. (Try finding it when the Merse is covered!) Once the horseshoe is
reached, the course bends through 180degrees opening out into The Devils Reach.
It was here in the days of working sail that schooners could be seen struggling
to make way up river against the Sou’westerly that had brought them up to
Kippford. SYC Commodore Stewart Biggar, born and bred in Kippford,  still remembers his childhood babysitter
telling him stories of as many as seven schooners all stuck in The Devil’s
Reach unable to get up to Palnackie, or to the further port at Dalbeattie.
However in an N12, it is just a case of short tacking between the shallows to
make the next few bends, before coming into the lee of the hills and the
challenging, shifty light stuff! It can be blowing force 4 in Kippford but a
drifter trying to reach the harbour mouth and mark at Palnackie. Get there
before the tidal gate closes and the ebb starts and you stand a chance of
winning; miss it and things can get very frustrating!


 


The return leg back to Kippford usually brings the fleet
into close company making for some exciting and tactical river sailing right up
to the finish.


 


Both Palnackie & Dalbeattie harbours still have their
ancient timbers that the working sailing ships tied up alongside to discharge
and load cargoes. While Palnackie harbour still sees occasional visits from
working boats. Dalbeattie port has recently been restored with information
boards showing its history. Both are worth a closer look along with the photos
of both in Kippford’s two pubs, the Anchor and the Mariner. It is amazing how
little the landscapes have changed, only the sailing ships are missing.

SYC social life is well known but as usual we plan to hold a
barbecue gathering at our house, overlooking the yacht moorings, to which all
N12 sailors, family and friends are most welcome.

For those not sailing, Kippford and Rockcliffe, joined by
the coastal path, provide great views of the main sailing area as well as the
glorious scenery. Palnackie harbour is a short drive from Kippford and has a
nice grassed picnic area overlooking the river. Look forward to seeing you!

Best wishes, 

Ian & Margaret

[angus]

I am sure Ian Purkis would like some idea of numbers planning on attending if you can let him know either through this site of giving him a call his number is in the book or on the fixture list.

[angus]

Notice of race and sailing instructions are on the Solway Yacht Club website at http://www.thesyc.co.uk/.
Breifing on Saturday will be held at 12 O clock.

[Chadders]

Big thanks to the race team at Solway Y. C. for a great weekends sailing and especially to Ian and Margaret Purkis for all the hospitality and for feeding us all on Saturday evening.  Congratulations to Mark Simpson on winning the event overall, good racing with three different winners including Ian and Margaret who put in a terrific performance in race one to show us all how to pick the Solway shifts and sail very fast indeed.

[angus]

Yes a great weekend, pitty Agent Orange wasn't on form on Saturday but it made a nice change to finish a race at Solway and the Palnackie was great fun, the memory of coasting past Ian and Neil is on the at Will cherish for a long time, I doubt if they will forget it that quickly (cause I won't let them he,he).