Nithraid River Race 2025

The Nith is a tidal river that runs through the historic market town of Dumfries, connecting the town to the sea, which in the 18th century saw the town and its neighbouring villages of Glencaple and Kingholm Quay become one of Scotland’s largest and busiest trading ports.

To celebrate this rich history, we hold an annual River Race, which sees teams of coastal rowers, sailing boats and various person-powered vessels race the river, battling for the best time with each boat carrying a cargo representing goods that was traded in those times.

The river’s importance to Dumfries as the region’s largest market town is immortalised in the Nithraid logo. Our festival mascot, ‘Salty Coo’ symbolises the historic journey made by herds of cattle, led by their farmers, across the river at low tide, from Maxwelltown on the west bank to the cattle market at Whitesands on the east side of the river. This historic crossing site now marks the end half-way point of the Nithraid River Race.

Please read the following notes and race rules as you will be required to declare that you have read the race rules and notes and agreed to comply with them when booking your ticket.

Please note: The tide is earlier than in previous Nithraids but, as Knut confirmed, they are beyond our control. This means getting to the race start and preparing for the race quite early. All times will be confirmed in the race information and on the website as Nithraid approaches.

Course Notes and Race Rules

Date: Saturday 23rd August 2025.

HW Dumfries 13.15 BST.

Course: Glencaple to Mill Green, Dumfries.

Pre-race brief: 10.30hrs BST. Barbour Hall, Glencaple.

Start time: 1200 BST (+ or – 0.30)

Entry fee: £15 per boat.

Classes:

• Unrestricted sailing dinghy race.
• Coastal Rowing Assoc. St Ayles Skiffs.
• Racing Kayaks
• Other watercraft

Course:

The 2025 Nithraid is a River Race over a navigable section of the river Nith between Glencaple and Dumfries. Final details of the start procedure will be given at the pre-race briefing. Please refer to the maps posted on the Stove/Nithraid website

Start – Finish.

Start: 1200 (or later) at Start Line, Lifeboat Station.

Finish: Dumfries Finish Line, between Mill Green Dumfries and Whitesands steps.

Some boats may wish to return to Glencaple with the ebb but because of the tide times, the race will be only be timed one-way.

Notes:

Nithraid is a celebration of the river Nith in the life of the community and a regular racing fixture on the national calendar. Please tell everyone you know who may be interested in taking part to contact the organisers.

Race start & times:

Because of the strength of the flood tide the start will be a staggered running start with a time taken as each boat crosses the start and finish lines. Details will be confirmed at the briefing. Times below are for guidance. Crews should arrive with enough time to prepare their boats for racing, leave them at the slipway then attend the briefing where numbers and other details will be given out.

Approx. start times (they may vary depending on the conditions on the day)

• Sailing vessels: 1200
• Others: 1200
• Coastal Rowing Assoc 1215
• Racing Kayaks 1230

Return run at your discretion.

Distance, tide and wind:

The course distance is 5.25 miles. The timing takes advantage of the tide.

With the wind assisting it will take sailing boats about 1 hour. Against the wind it could take 2 hours. Normal winds in August are SW. The incoming tide can be quite strong at Glencaple, care must be taken when launching. There is a bore on the nith and launching will take place after it has passed.

Winner:

Trophies will be awarded in each class: sailing, coastal rowing, kayak and other, based on their times. A timetable will be published so that crews can also see their split times. Boats will be given cargoes at the briefing which they will carry from Glencaple to Dumfries. To complete the first leg of the race cargoes must be deposited at the point indicated just above the Dumfries finish line.

Results and prize-giving at the Mill Green Dumfries

Safety:

Boat crews must wear buoyancy aids while on the water.

There will be safety boats in attendance.

A competing boat shall give all possible assistance to any person or vessel in danger in the absence of a safety boat.

Bridges:

There are three bridges on the course, the clearance under the lowest, the first bridge on the course, is about 14ft. in the centre of the span. Sailing vessels with an air-draft of anything approaching this will have to lower their masts, or capsize, to get under them. A Mirror dinghy, for instance, can get under by dipping the gunter, but a GP14 must lower its mast.

Anyone who has not taken part before and needs information or guidance about this, please contact markzygadlo@btinternet.com

Trophies:

Would last year’s trophy winners please return them. They have every chance of winning them again this year

Nithraid Rules:

General: There are likely to be concentrations of competing boats at the start, finish and at bridges. The river is a restricted space so please let common sense and good sportsmanship prevail. Normal event rules apply and:

1. When in proximity to sailing vessels, all other boats are considered as ‘powered’ and must give way if on closing courses.
2. All vessels approaching each other on reciprocal courses must pass, port-to-port.

Sailors: There are no marks on the course.

1. Normal rules apply between sailing boats.
2. A sailing boat being passed by a powered vessel must not change course unless tacking of necessity, and if so, shall hail or signal the overtaking boat of its intention to tack in advance.
3. A sailing boat overtaking a powered boat may pass either side and must hail them in advance.
4. A sailing boat that is rowing will behave like a powered vessel while rowing.

Coastal Rowing and Other boats:

1. Boats may pass either side of each other. An overtaking boat must hail the boat ahead in advance.
2. A boat being overtaken must not alter course to block being passed.