Challenger Open Scottish Championships 2025 at Solway Yacht Club

by Ian Purkis 13 May 2025 05:15 UTC 10-11 May 2025

Making a welcome return to Kippford and the Solway Yacht Club, Challenger crews and their "buddies" arrived on the "Scottish Riviera" in almost Mediterranean sunshine before getting registered, rigged and ready for an early tide on Saturday.

With crews coming from the Highlands, English Midlands and everywhere in between, it meant many longstanding friendships among this very special group of sailors were renewed. This annual event was sponsored by Hugh Campbell and formed part of the Scottish Challenger Traveller Series sponsored by Sir Boyd Tunnock. It also enjoyed welcome support from the Tesco Community Champions initiative locally.

Before the main event and slipping their moorings, a flotilla of the Club's larger yachts and members set off, heading for Whitehaven for a short cruise and overnight stay. Meanwhile on the pier, briefing for the competitors by Race Officer John Broadbent over, a willing band of Solway YC helpers got the crews aboard their boats and launched. The very light Northeast wind necessitated the fleet being towed out in pairs alongside each of the safety boats against the flood tide. Once the Committee Boat was anchored on station, the Race Officer and his team had difficult decisions to make given the expectation of a sea breeze from the South. Sure enough it arrived, with a few gentle puffs but enough for a course to be set. A clean start and the Challengers led away, followed by the Club fleet starting ten minutes later. Frustrating for some but patience would be rewarded with the race being finished at one of the course buoys. So, race one of the scheduled four race series went to David Driffill from Ogston Sailing Club, with Val Millward from Rutland SC taking second.

Once the Club fleet made it to the Committee boat finish, conditions were improving, and the sea breeze was picking up when race two got under way. Another clean start in near perfect "champagne sailing" conditions had the Challenger and Club fleets enjoying great sailing. This time it was Duncan Greenhalgh from Bassenthwaite SC did the winning with Val Millward again second. No need for a tow this time, the beautiful sea breeze sped the fleet home against the ebb tide.

After an afternoon enjoying a break and the beautiful surroundings, the visitors joined many of the Club members for the "Challenging Supper" in the Village Hall, kindly made available by the Kippford Association, in recognition of the Sailability Scotland SCIO charitable event. A superb spread was laid on by Liz Train, the Social Secretary and her great team, with everyone enjoying a slap-up meal. Once thoroughly refreshed, the Club Commodore, Scott McColm, gave a presentation of a very significant clubhouse modernisation project. Without any fully accessible clubhouse facilities currently, the village hall was the only alternative available to accommodate wheelchair users. This project will refurbish the existing Gents showering and toilet facility to incorporate a fully accessible unisex changing, showering and toilet wet room within the existing building. Ian Purkis, the project lead, then described the project in detail, referring to the Architect's drawings and describing how it is proposed to operate, giving additional safeguarding benefits. Announcing that the Club has been successful in applying for a Dumfries and Galloway Council Coastal Benefit Fund Grant, and their hugely appreciated financial support, he then invited the Commodore to sign the Grant Acceptance form to enthusiastic applause. While the detail described was not yet "cast in stone", Ian invited those present from the disabled community to join him for feedback on the project detail to ensure it achieved their needs as best as possible. Valuable discussion then followed, rounding off a highly successful evening.

Sunday morning and again very light winds were forecast so after another briefing, launching got under way. With little certainty of much wind, a short triangular course was set and race three of the series started. The leading Challenger was round lap one in fourteen minutes, but the fickle wind was dropping, slowing both fleets so after two more laps the shortened course flag brought it to a close with Duncan Greenhalgh winning by a narrow margin over David Driffill with Val Millward close behind, third. By the time the final finisher in the Club fleet crossed the line the wind died to nothing, leaving both fleets and the committee boat wallowing around uncomfortably in the wake of a couple of passing powerboats.

After a twenty-minute postponement, a few zephyrs started to show on the surface, and it seemed another sea breeze might be developing. The starting sequence commenced but more postponements, a general recall, then finally the race was restarted and while two were over the line and got individual recalls, the rest crept away, more carried by the ebb than the wind. Heading over to the East, Val Millward picked just the right course to find what little wind there was and established a clear lead. Fearful that the race might have to be abandoned, the Race Officer despatched a safety boat to finish the fleet at V buoy, North of Rough Island bringing all four races to a conclusion. Following Val home, it was an all-female top three, with Lynn Steward from Wigan and St Helens SC second and Diana Faulks, another Rutland SC sailor, third.

A tired group of sailors and helpers descended back to the village hall for very welcome teas, scones and Tunnocks Teacakes, kindly donated by Tesco Castle Douglas. Prize-giving celebrated the great achievement of the fleet, proving that almost no disability limits what can be enjoyed in our competitive sport. Val Millward was the worthy winner, with Duncan Greenhalgh second and David Drffill third overall. However, the very popular, special achievement award went to Zoe McPartlin helming in her first regatta, her first sail on the sea and only her fifth sail ever, with buddy, coach and husband Keith seated alongside her aboard their boat. Finally, commemorative Challenger Scottish Championship mugs were presented to every competitor, with two more presented to outstanding Solway YC helpers, Liz Train and Pier-master Chris Nurney.

Overall Results:

1st Val Millward (Rutland SC)
2nd Duncan Greenhalgh (Bassenthwaite SC)
3rd David Driffill (Ogston SC)
4th Diana Faulks (Rutland SC)
5th John McPartlin (Loch Venacher SC)
6th Stephen Thomas Bate (Annandale SC)
7th Lynn Steward (Wigan & St Helens SC)
8th Stephen Laycock (Loch Ken SC)

9th Zoe and Keith McPartlin (Loch Venachar SC)

Club Racing:

Spring Saturday Series races seven (and eight):

1st (& 1st) Toby Iglehart (ILCA6)
2nd (& 2nd) Colin Filer and Jamie Gascoigne (Flying Fifteen)
3rd (& 4th) Finlay Train (ILCA6)
4th (& 3rd) Finn Harris (ILCA6)
5th (& 6th) Stephen Gaughan and Paul Bannister (Osprey)
6th (& 5th) James Colbeck (ILCA6)

Spring Sunday Series races seven (and eight):

1st (& 2nd) Colin Filer and Jamie Gascoigne (Flying Fifteen)
2nd (& 1st) Toby Iglehart (ILCA6)
3rd (& 3rd =) Ida Iglehart (Topper)
4th (& 5th) Stephen Gaughan and Paul Bannister (Osprey)
5th (& 3rd =) Finn Harris (ILCA6)