Solway Yacht Club hold annual spring pursuit race

Despite an early tide in Kippford, the Solway Yacht Club still had time to hold their popular annual spring pursuit race.

Held over 90 minutes, the slowest rated boats start first, progressing to the fastest last, the winner being the race leader at the 90-minute point.

With the tide still rising and little wind, race officer and handicapper, John Broadbent, unexpectedly set an up-river course to the first turning mark before the fleet set off down the estuary to a second mark out in the bay.

First away was cadet Lucy Leyshon, leading the fleet in her Topper reaching the first mark, followed by 2023 cadet champion, Toby Iglehart in his ILCA4 Laser who took the lead shortly after and held it until he reached the moored yachts.

At the 20-minute point, the Firefly of Ian and Margaret Purkis got past and stretched their lead out into the bay but with less than 10 minutes to go, the Flying Fifteen of Colin Filer and Jamie Gascoigne, closely followed by the Finns of first Stewart Mitchell and then Keith Veasey, were all coming into contention, the four leading boats virtually “mast abeam” although quite spread out.

At the second turning mark, the Filer/Gascoigne Flying Fifteen was first round, just ahead of Mitchell second, followed by Veasey and the Purkis crew, finishing in that order, but the Firefly lucky to hold on to fourth with the fast-closing Osprey of Steve and Linda Gaughan right on their tail as the 90-minute finish sounded.

Regrettably racing the following day was abandoned with flat calm conditions.

The club will be holding their open day on Saturday from 12noon.

The club is looking forward to welcoming the local community to sample the delights of all types of boating in their beautiful