BORDERS MSP John Lamont is used to the swim-or-sink life of politics.

And he was on hand at the weekend to welcome a new rescue boat at the ever-popular St Mary’s Loch.

Hundreds of sailors, kayakers, swimmers and even surfboarders use the Yarrow Valley lock every month.

And the new St Mary’s Loch Sailing Club rescue boat, which was funded by Awards for All, has been widely welcomed.

Mr Lamont told us: “It was a pleasure to visit St Mary’s Loch Sailing Club to see their new rescue boat in action. The loch is in a fantastic location and the conditions for sailing were great.

“I know that the boat will be put to very good use in the coming seasons and that the club was delighted with the funding they received. It was great to see junior sailors in action as well and everyone I spoke to was having a great time.

“The sailing club is a great example of what the Scottish Borders has to offer and one of the many reasons why the area is such a great place to live.

“I understand that St Mary’s Loch is reputed to be the coldest loch in Scotland, so I was pleased that I didn’t fall in at any point.” During his visit, which took place during the club’s annual training camp for junior members, Mr Lamont was taken out on the rescue boat to see it in action.

He also watched some of the training sessions and met with sailing instructors and junior sailors attending the camp.

The club, which is located at the largest natural loch in the Scottish Borders, supports a wide variety of sailing activities including regular racing, training, junior events, as well as kayaking and windsurfing.

Club Commodore, Alison Robertson Morrish said: “St Mary’s Loch Sailing Club is delighted to have been awarded funding by Awards for All Scotland to facilitate the purchase of an additional rescue and training boat.

“The RIB (Rigid Inflatable Boat) will be particularly useful in enabling instructors to get much closer to sailors to highlight teaching points. It will be used on a regular basis for training and coaching purposes and will be of great value during our annual summer camp, which we run for younger members.

“We are currently working with RYA Scotland with a view to running a youth regatta for sailors across Scotland in 2016. In addition to supporting the training needs, the RIB will provide us with improved rescue cover.”