We were blessed with gorgeous weather on an evening that saw thirty three of us paddle out to St Herbert's Island for a social get together and barbeque.  Thanks so much to Becca, organising her first club social event so successfully, with able assistance from sous chefs Alan, Mark and Helen.

Three great days kayaking from Brighouse Bay organised by Shel and Alan.   

Saturday - had a larger group of thirteen in the best conditions of the weekend.  Paddled from a new get in on the north shore of Ross Bay.  Out through the ebbing channel at Little Ross with a bit of bounce as this met the last of the westerly Solway ebb, then on to brighouse bay for a lunch stop before returning via the islands on the west entrance to Brighouse, around Little Ross and up the channel towards Kirkcudbright, stopping briefly at the flood accessible beach at Nun Mill Bay, and then returning against the wind back to Ross Bay.

Sunday - had an even larger group of 14 in slightly windier conditions.  Visited the Fleet Isles from Brighouse Bay, with some of the group returning from east of Barlocco Island to get back before the wind escalated later in the afternoon.  A smaller group circumnavigated the rest of the Fleet Isles before returning in conditions that were

​Can really recommend Solway View as a campsite and they were so accomodating to allow us to launch from their land on Ross Bay, even offering to strim the path down to the beach if we let them know in advance! 
They also have plenty of space round the pitches which allowed us to meet socially as a group for our after dinner shenanigans.
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Thanks to participants and organisers for a fun weekend.

Report on the Jim Wilson Tiger Boat Challenge for Cumbria Canoe Clubs, 24th April 2024
Everyone we have spoken to says “What an enthusiastic and happy evening”.
A big thank you to everyone who made this such a huge success - in particular -

• Derwentwater Marina for hosting us all.
• Our Race Director in the start boat - Rob Sanderson and his crew Ian Fauldes.
• Our enthusiastic Tiger Boat Helms - Mark Aplin, Rich Robinson, John Crosbie, Tim Mather.
• Our hawk eyed Timekeepers -Guy Murray and Alex Fradley in the finish boat with Lisa Price. 
• The paddlers who drove a long way, on a mid-week evening to come to Derwentwater and the captains who got the teams together from West Cumbria, Carlisle, Copeland, Lakeland and Penrith canoe clubs.
• Our Welcome team of Hazel, Shaun and Jack who gave you a friendly welcome.
• Our team of cheerful chefs who laid on an outstanding non-stop BBQ for about 100 people - Becca Muir, Mark and Helen Hunt, Ellon, Sean and Bea.
• The Shore Organisers for WCCC  - Pete Knowles and Alan Ashby.

 
Brief Report
Tiger Boats are similar to small dragon boats and require a crew of 10 persons and an experienced  “helm” - the person steering.  Racing them is great fun and requires a quick start, teamwork, coordination and hard paddling - Various levels of all of these were achieved!  As the evening went on the races became more and more exciting with lots of happy cheering and 7 races were packed into a hectic 90 minutes of enthusiastic, non-stop racing. 
The heats were close with all teams putting up credible times.  The two teams with the best times in the heats - Penrith A and Copeland Canoe Clubs went through to the final - What looked like a dramatic crash in the final was thankfully only a minor bump which did not affect the result with Penrith A a clear winner.  Lisa Price from Derwentwater Marina presented Penrith Canoe Club with the Jim Wilson trophy and thanked everyone for making it such a happy, enthusiastic event.   
 
Photos and Media

• Alan Ashby took a load of good photos and the best of these are available on this link …….
• We attach the race times.
• Please feel free to publicise the event on social and other media.

 
Best wishes and happy paddling in the summer ahead!
 
Peter Knowles and Alan Ashby for WCCC