More than 60 visitors enjoyed perfect sunny, breezy conditions on Lochmaben’s Castle Loch on Sunday, May 8, for Annandale Sailing Club’s annual Open Day.
It was the perfect introduction to dinghy sailing for many who were experiencing the sport for the first time.
Club members laid on refreshments and home baking in the clubhouse, with many people enjoying the sunshine and views from the new terrace.
In the boat park, visitors could view many of the different dinghy classes sailed on Castle Loch before getting out on the water themselves in the company of experienced club sailors.
Paddle boarding was a feature of the Open Day for the first time, with club members sharing their boards with, and keeping an eye on, those trying the popular activity for the first time.
As well as new faces, past members and old friends dropped in to say hello throughout the afternoon and Commodore Elaine Ross said it was lovely to share the club with the whole community: “We’re really interested in getting people active, outdoors, improving their sense of wellbeing and just loving the beautiful environment we’ve got here,” she said.
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A virtually windless day brought challenges for competitors and organisers at Annandale Sailing Club’s second open event of the 2022 season on Saturday, May 7.
This race meeting was for two classes of single-handed dinghy, the Laser and the Streaker, and saw 13 boats take part.
Race Officer Stewart Mitchell and his team were determined to get the scheduled three races completed, despite the light airs, and racers who’d travelled from Cumbria, Wakefield, St Mary’s Loch and North Berwick were also keen to make their journeys worthwhile.
After a delay, racing did get underway and the shifty, intermittent breeze which developed, made for some tactical competition.
The Streaker fleet was made up of three Annandale SC boats, plus one from St Mary’s, and it was Annandale’s Guy Wheeler who took the honours in all three races.
The nine-strong Laser fleet was dominated by Tim Keighley of West Riding SC but he was pushed hard by Roo Purves of East Lothian SC. Third place was hard fought between Sam Sancar of Sedbergh School and Simon Wilson of Solway SC, with Simon taking the prize by beating Sam in the final race.
Results: Lasers – 1 Tim Keighley, 2 Roo Purves, 3 Simon Wilson. Streakers – 1 Guy Wheeler, 2 Katie Masterton, 3 Trudie Mitchell.

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After a two-year absence, the club's popular Open Day is set to return on Sunday, May 8. Members of the public are welcome to drop into the club between noon and 4pm to get out onto the Castle Loch and have a go at sailing (weather permitting). They will also be invited to tour the clubhouse and grounds and find out more about ways to get afloat. Anyone wanting to take to the water should come prepared in suitable outdoor clothing and soft soled shoes. Buoyancy Aids will be provided and must be worn. Refreshments will be available.  

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Happy New Year to all our members and friends. 
Your committee will be busy planning for the 2022 season, over the next month, and (pandemic permitting) there will be lots to look forward to...

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Sadly, our 2021 sailing season has ended in dramatic fashion with devastating floods over the last weekend in October. The boat park was completely swamped, with a few boats taking themselves off for a float around the loch. Members have worked hard to secure as many boats as possible and one "stray" was retrieved from the south end of the loch by kayak on Sunday 31st. The flood water did enter the club house but luckily our new extension has been built with flooding in mind, so hopefully there will not be too much damage - just lots of clearing up to do! 

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A successful weekend of special events was held at Annandale Sailing Club on August 21 and 22, despite challenges from the weather.

Saturday saw the Club welcome some of its female members and guests for the annual Ladies On The Loch event, a fun, informal day of sailing to encourage more women to take to the water.

Unfortunately, although mild, the day saw persistent showers and almost no wind throughout, but participants enjoyed paddle boarding instead, sharing members’ own boards, with a little sailing when conditions allowed.

Always designed to be a social celebration too, the event involved lots of good food and chat, including drinks on the new clubhouse veranda.

Sunday was drier, with a little more breeze, for the Club’s annual Novice and Cadet Regatta.

Sailors with less than three years’ experience, plus under 18s of all levels, took part in three races – the last one a fun,  ‘no rules’ contest involving a lot of paddling!

The day ended with a swim, some paddle boarding and ice cream before prizes were awarded.

The overall winners were: 1 Jack Vivers, 2 = Alison McKendrick and Rhiannon Fox, 4 Katie Brown.

Club Commodore Elaine Ross said: “It was a really lovely day. A big thank you to everyone who joined in with the Regatta and Ladies on the Loch the previous day. It was great to be able to socialise again and, while we are still being cautious with Covid measures, we can finally enjoy our excellent facilities again.”
 

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Visiting sailors from as far afield as Yorkshire and East Lothian visited Annandale Sailing Club last weekend for a day of racing in hot sunshine and light breezes.

The competition was a combination of the Scottish Championships for the Streaker class and part of the Lakeland and Border Grand Prix series for the Laser class.

It was the first Open competition hosted by the Lochmaben club since the start of the Coronavirus pandemic and organisers were delighted to welcome visitors back and see 15 boats competing on Castle Loch.

Race officer Stewart Mitchell and his team fulfilled the challenge of fitting in three races during the day, despite the changeable breeze which also tested sailors’ skills and patience.

The first race started in a light SE easterly which flicked to easterly and north easterly but a simple trapezoid course provided tactical racing throughout.

The first races were won by Tim Keighley of West Riding SC in the Lasers and Phil Manning of Delph SC in the Streakers, which proved to be the pattern for the other two races.   

Race two was postponed as the breeze went northerly and died completely for 15 minutes before a sea breeze kicked in from exactly the same direction with an equally shifty nature. 

The same course this time saw very close racing among the Streakers with places changing throughout the fleet requiring a pin end boat to assist with the extremely close finishes.

True to form at the end of race two the wind died completely resulting in another short postponement before a fresher southerly breeze built, requiring a rapid shift of committee boat and course to set a classic Annandale round the cans course to entertain the visitors.     

Stewart said: “A full set of races and an overdose of sunshine resulted in.lots of happy sailors.”

The Club had the great honour of a visit from RYA Scotland chairman Brian Wilson during the afternoon and he kindly agreed to present the prizes. 

Commodore Elaine Ross thanked all the sailors and race management team for making the event a success.

OVERALL RESULTS:
LASER: 1 Tim Keighley, West Riding SC; 2 Greg Liggins, Derwent Reservoir SC; 3 Jonathon Nicoll, Ullswater YC; 4 Carol Beattie, Annandale SC; 5 Richard Benson, Tynemouth SC; 6 Jordan Bell, Annandale SC.
STEAKER: 1 Phil Manning, Delph SC; 2 James Sinclair, East Lothian YC; 3 Guy Wheeler, Annandale SC; 4 Ian Priest, Ripon SC; 5 Katie Masters, St Mary’s Loch SC; 6 Barney Proud, Craven SC; 7 Elaine Ross, Annandale SC; 8 Trudie Mitchell, Annandale SC; 9 Angus Beyts, Newburgh SC

 

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