Boat Parking and Storage

Due to a growing demand for the use of the Club's hard standing areas your committee are having to introduce some regulation to the issue, these briefly are: -

Trailer Identification:
To assist the committee in identifying trailers and launching trolleys (including dinghies and tenders) please have your boat name clearly marked on them.

Summer Trailer Parking:
Cruiser owners should ensure that all trailers are removed from the pier head to the rear of the Yacht Club and parked in a tidy and considerate manner for the duration of the sailing season.

Trailer-Day-Sailors & Motorboats without permanent parking on the pier head should store their trailers neatly on the hard standing behind the small car park whilst the boats are in use.

Craning Out and Winter Boat Parking:
Applications must be made in writing to the club secretary for 08/09 boat craning and winter boat parking regardless of whether or not you already use this facility - consideration will be given to existing users.

Application forms will be sent by email or postage to existing users in good time and will be available on the download page of the club web site. Payment will continue to be made with membership renewal - in arrears.

The committee will allocate the winter parking to make best use of the hard standing areas. Please note that once laid-up for the winter you may be blocked in by other boats.

Third Party Insurance:
Owners who intend to park their boats on any club premises are required to provide their up to date insurance for inspection, prior to winter parking.

A copy will be retained for our records by the club secretary.

A minimum of three million pounds third party insurance is required. (This is normally the standard third party cover on small boat/marine insurances).

The Coastal and Marine National Park

The UK's first Coastal and Marine National Park is to be in Scotland. A shortlist of sites has been announced, the Park is due be up and running by 2008. The short listed sites include the Solway Firth.

Background detail can be found at the WWF Scotland.

The RYA response to the public consultation is available in the Members Area via a link on the Committee Minutes and Policy page. It is not yet on general release.

Leisure Boat Diesel

The EU is ending the right of pleasure boaters to use rebated gas oil as a propulsion fuel. The Government have tried to resist but have been unable to do so. Learn more on the RYA Site within their News and Events page.

Photos by Duncan Gillespie

NATIONAL 12 MEETING AT SOLWAY YACHT CLUB 5-6th July 08

By Jennie Clark

The 3rd round of the Lairwell (Scottish) series for National 12’s took place on 5 and 6 July and was hosted by Solway Yacht Club.

The fleet was almost perfectly split into equal portions of self draining, Admiral’s Cup and Vintage (cleverly referred to as ‘self swamping’ by Gary Holdsworth) boats and it was wonderful to see some quite elderly craft take to the water despite the very windy conditions on Saturday, the oldest of which will have her 60th birthday shortly.

PRO Duncan Gillespie set the course within the bounds of the estuary, which was a very wise move and one welcomed by the fleet as it protected them from the waves which could be seen further out. In the first race Mark and Emma Simpson, who seem to love ‘living on the edge’ sailing, overtook Bernard Clark/Elaine Ross on the 2nd reach and never looked back. Stewart Miatt/Lee Lower took 3rd place, sailing with the handicap of a kicker which only worked when it felt like it. Bronagh Gillespie/Ailsa Ross sailed Ian Purkis’s N1620 brilliantly considering it was their first time in a 12 and the wind was a steady force 5 with bigger gusts. Unfortunately they got swamped within 100 yards of the finish line but were given a finish in recognition of their exceptional sailing.

Race 2 saw the fleet depleted somewhat, with only 7 boats taking part as others sailed in to do repairs or headed to the beach to empty out. Simpson/Simpson flew away from Clark and Ross, who capsized on the start line with just 10 seconds to go, and were never to be stopped. Clark and Ross recovered to take 2nd place. The course involved a particularly hairy run which tested the nerves of those who competed!

Race 3 was sailed in even windier conditions and saw the fleet further depleted with just 4 starters. The Simpson’s lived ‘life on the edge’ and took the gun, followed by Clark/Ross and Tim and Seb Gatti (N2255). Miatt and ? retired to undertake repairs when the boat became uncontrollable on the run and broached.

The evening was spent in a very happy gathering at Ian and Margaret’s and Ian managed to continue cooking on the BBQ despite some heavy showers.

Sunday morning was rather wet and grey but the wind had lessened off and this made for more pleasant sailing. Clark and Ross found the conditions just to their liking and claimed line honours, with Simpson/Simpson second and Miatt/Lower third. The fleet struggled to get out to the start line due to the incoming tide, lack of wind in the river and the effects of a late night! At times when the rain came down visibility was less than 100 yards but as the fleet got clear of the upper area of the estuary they could plane happily away to the start line.

Overall results were:

Mark and Emma Simpson first in Aardvark, Bernard Clark and Elaine Ross second in Roly Mo and Stewart Miatt and Lee Lower third. Ian Ppurkis presented Bronagh Gillespie and Ailsa Ross with a momento of their first outing with the N12's in a vintage boat called Mock Turtle.

Great sailing at a fantastic venue – we’ll be back next year!

Archived Race Reports

 

Applications for Over Wintering of Boats - 2008/9

Application forms have been dispatched to regular users. If you are not a current user and wish to apply please download the form and submit details Mark Need, Cruising Secretary.

This will assist the pier master with the organisation of winter parking and ensure we have space for all those who apply.

Regular users will be given priority