Date: Saturday 15th August 2026
HW Dumfries 14:45 – 15:00 BST
Bore: Nith Bore passes Glencaple, 12:45 (HW – 2hrs)
Course: Glencaple to Mill Green, Dumfries
Registration: From 10:30 BST Nithraid Gazebo, Nith Inshore Rescue. Glencaple.
Pre-race brief: 12:00 BST. Nithraid Gazebo, Nith Inshore Rescue. Glencaple.
Start time: 13:15 BST (+ or – 0.30)
Entry fee: £15 per boat
(online entries close midnight Thursday 13 August)
Classes:
Unrestricted sailing dinghy race
Coastal Rowing Assoc. St Ayles Skiffs
Racing Kayaks + Canoes
Stand up Paddle boards
Other watercraft
ENTRIES
Eventbrite: https://nithraid2026.eventbrite.co.uk
Course:
The 2026 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.
Start – Finish.
Start: 13:15 (approximately for first class, sailing boats) at Start Line, Lifeboat Station.
Finish: Dumfries Finish Line, between Mill Green Dumfries and Whitesands steps.
The race will be timed and results given at the Mill Green after HW 14:45hrs. BST. 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.
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 register, prepare their boats for racing, leave them at the slipway then attend the briefing where race details will be given out. Please keep the road clear and move vehicles to the parking field immediately once boats are offloaded.
Approx. start times to be confirmed at pre-race briefing (subject to change based on river conditions)
- Sailing vessels: 13.15
- Stand Up Paddleboards 13.15+
- Coastal Rowing Assoc 13.40+
- Racing Kayaks + Canoes 13.50 (mass start)
- Fine Rowing 14.00
Return run at your discretion.
Distance, tide and wind:
The course distance is 5.25 miles. The timing takes advantage of the tide.
The timing takes advantage of the tide.
With the following wind 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 likely to be a tidal bore on the day of Nithraid; launching will take place after it has passed.
Smaller boats, kayaks etc., are welcome to haul out at Dumfries for the duration of High Water before the return run. Mooring posts will be provided and crews may disembark. Boats may also end their activity after the upstream run, in which case we ask that they do not bring vehicles onto the site for loading until the day’s activities are over.
Winner:
Trophies will be awarded in each class: sailing, coastal rowing, kayak + canoes, stand up paddle boarding and fine rowing, 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.
Prize-giving at the Mill Green Dumfries at 15:00 once all boats have arrived.
Notes:
Nithraid is an annual Environmental Art Festival and a gathering of organisations which care about the life and condition of the River Nith. The river race is a core element of this celebration as well as a regular racing fixture on the national calendar. Competing crews are invited to enjoy the activities on the Mill Green before returning to Glencaple. Please tell everyone you know who may be interested in taking part.
Safety:
Boat crews, except fine rowing boats, must wear buoyancy aids while on the water.
There will be safety boats in attendance.
A competing boat must 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:
- When in proximity to sailing vessels, all other boats are considered as ‘powered’ and must give way if on closing courses.
- All vessels approaching each other on reciprocal courses must pass, port-to-port.
Sailors: There are no marks on the course.
- Normal rules apply between sailing boats.
- 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.
- A sailing boat overtaking a powered boat may pass either side and must hail them in advance.
- A sailing boat that is rowing will behave like a powered vessel while rowing.
Coastal Rowing and Other boats:
- Boats may pass either side of each other. An overtaking boat must hail the boat ahead in advance.
- A boat being overtaken must not alter course to block being passed.
GOOD LUCK!
Nithraid RIVER FESTIVAL 