1992 was the first NW Area weekend in the Solway. Mary & Ken O’Halloran-Brown, taking dog Fudge and their Wayfarer, met DCA treasurer Terry Hughes and his wife Margaret, and Tony Nield and Dave Morton in a Seal 22 at Kirkcudbright harbour slip at noon on Saturday May 23. HW 1500 — neaps.

We had chosen neaps at the winter meeting without Terry’s advice, to minimise tidal streams. The slipway was only covered HW +/- 1.5 hours, the area beyond being mud, which was OK for carried boats but impassable for trailer wheels. A NNE 4/5 gave the reefed Wayfarer a spanking run downriver to the end of St Mary’s Isle where the wave conditions became unpleasant. A busy tack back up the narrow channel needed three adults, Mary, Ken and Cliff Laycock, to continue carrying the reefed main and genoa. In places the channel is extremely narrow and the centreboard doubled as a depth-sounder! We were back in time to haul out on the Kirkcudbright SC slip rather than use the two visitors’ moorings which are always afloat, where the other club moorings dry out. This crew, together with Mary Laycock and Willow, a non-sailing dog, spent an enjoyable evening with Terry and Margaret at their house, The Grange, where we were regaled with tales of unrestored Daimlers, well lubricated with homemade wine (us, not the Daimlers) by Donald and Marion Henry who have flats and caravans for hire. After a tour of their four acres of mature mixed woodland and tales of sailing their previous boat, a Magyar, the evening closed with the inevitable bit of piping to frighten the dogs.

After a windy night ashore for us all, Sunday brought a NW 3/4. Mary and Ken enjoyed a calmer trip out into the bay whilst Terry and Cliff did a commissioning run in Terry’s Mirror and worked on Terry’s Signet 21 on its mooring. More evening yarns at the excellent Silvercraigs caravan and camping site near the town centre. In conclusion, a delightful, historic town with ample space for cars and trailers, but the river current, 6 knots with no slack, limits sailing to two hours neaps and 5 hours springs, unless you stay afloat over two tides.

On Monday, Mary and Ken took their Wayfarer by road to Loch Ken, up river, to Galloway Sailing Centre (tel 06442 626 — inclusive fee £5.00) where the non-tidal conditions and excellent facilities made a pleasant day. They also hire Wayfarers, Gulls, Lasers, Toppers and Optimists. Cliff and Mary even hired a beamy tender for a row there on Tuesday, hard work into the wind with Willow as ballast! A delightful area, much lovely countryside and places to visit which cater for non-sailing families. Our thanks go to the sailing club who let us use their basic facilities.