Solway Yacht Club welcome more than 100 visitors for open day at Kippford

More than 100 visitors of all ages, from far and wide, enjoyed a really great open day on and off the water at the Solway Yacht Club in Kippford on Sunday.

In bright sunshine and a light breeze, the sea sparkling, and the members’ warm welcome, a good time was had by one and all.

Those who just wanted to enjoy Kippford in the sunshine but didn’t fancy going afloat still were welcomed by the club’s hospitality with delicious cakes and more all on hand.

Those on the water sampled powerboating, larger offshore catamaran cruising and not least, being under sail in one of the club’s own boats, powered only by the breeze.

In addition, the cadets gave a running demonstration of their sailing skills while another demonstrated paddle boarding.

Seeing Kippford from the sea shows the picturesque village to its best, nestling below the The Muckle and the forest with the sea gently lapping the shoreline.

One visitor, a keen ornithologist, particularly enjoyed seeing the wildlife, undisturbed as the boat under sail glided past gently in the light wind.

Later in the day the larger yachts returned from their Scottish Armada weekend Cruise in Company to Whitehaven and back. This was a special trip, re-establishing a Solway Yacht Club tradition and reflects the resurgence of larger sailing yachts at the Club.

The next event at the club at the end of May will be the Challenger Open Meeting for Sailability Scotland and others, including disabled sailors in the Challenger trimarans, specially designed so they can be sailed by able bodied and the less able on equal terms.

The club is again hugely grateful to the Kippford Association which has made the fully accessible village hall available for the weekend.