Solway Yacht Club held the 2021 season’s opener series of dinghy races over the weekend.
On Saturday, 10 dinghies took part in light to moderate south westerly winds, with two races completed. The first was won by Stewart Mitchell in his Finn after a tight run against Scott Train and Anne Stewart in their Flying Fifteen. Mark Crowther came third in his Finn.
The second race was won by Mark Crowther, closely followed by Scott Train and Anne Stewart, with Rhys Williams coming third in his Laser.
Sunday saw two further races completed in bright sunshine with a light south westerly wind. The first race, featuring nine boats, was won by Scott Train and Anne Stewart in their Flying Fifteen followed by Stewart Mitchell in second place and Mark Crowther in third in their respective Finns.
The second race was won by Stewart Mitchell, with Scott Train and Anne Stewart again a close second and Mark Crowther third. All activities were carefully supervised by safety boats under the direction of the safety boat officer, Pete Hammond.
These events set the racing season off to a very successful start with many more races to come in the weeks ahead.
On Sunday afternoon the yacht club also received a visit to Kippford from the 6.87 metre ocean going Rannoch rowing boat TRIDENT. It is sponsored by Team No Retreat and is used to raise funds for MIND, the mental health charity.
It had been skilfully rowed 26 miles across the Solway Firth from Whitehaven by the crew of two, Katherine Wilkins and Martin Johnston. The crew and support staff were made most welcome to Kippford and congratulated on their superb rowing skills.
The trip was a training row with the aim to be the first to climb the highest peaks of Wales, England, Northern Ireland and Scotland whilst rowing between them. They will climb Snowden, hike to Caernarfon, row the dangerous Menai Strait through Puffin Island sound out into the Irish Sea heading for Whitehaven.
Once arrived, they will walk to and climb Scafell Pike and back and then set out to sea rowing for Newcastle, Northern Ireland. On arrival, the pair will climb Slieve Donard and set out to sea for the last time heading for Fort William navigating the treacherous waters of the North Channel and Western Isles along the way. From their final landing point their will hike to and climb Ben Nevis carrying their oars where their odyssey will end on the summit.
Former city solicitor Katherine is CEO of Team No Retreat, which assists companies with mental welfare audits and training programmes. She said: “Our ethos at Team No Retreat is to support and nurture physical and mental wellbeing corporately and individually. We believe no one should have to face a mental health problem alone and are therefore delighted to support MIND in our venture.”
Former Royal Marines Commando Martin is performance director of Katherine’s business and said: “We encountered difficult conditions in the night with waves breaking broadside over the boat and at one point we could not make progress despite hours of rowing because of adverse spring tides.
“At daybreak however, conditions settled down a little and a seal bobbed up in front of us showing the way.”
To support the pair, visit www.theretreatuk.co.uk/the-united-kingdom-four-peaks-row/
