Archive for January, 2011

As we reach the end of January, I am about to order more plywood for kits, which gives me a good opportunity to talk to people considering building a St Ayles.

Recent orders – UK…

North Queensferry have confirmed that they will be building with the promise that this is the only race against South Queensferry that they will lose.

Galgael have their second kit which will be built by pupils from Govan High School and Lourdes Secondary School.

Bunillidh Rowing Club in Helmsdale, Sutherland have received their kit, and will be building in former Coastguard premises in the town centre.

MyBus Community Transport in Methil will be confirming their order in a few days. At long last a community build in the home of the skiff!

Port Seton & Cockenzie are paying for a kit to be built at Preston Lodge High School.

There are several other places which are close to being ready to place orders, but who aren’t quite ready to put their money down yet. These include Newburgh, St Monans, and Boarhills in Fife; North Lochs in Lewis, and the first Loch Fyne build at Ardrishaig.

In the USA…

A kit has been delivered to a Community Boat Building project in Peekskil NY, about 40 miles north of Manhattan.

This brings the total in the USA so far to six. There have also been emails to and from a similar project in Oregon, with the word “when” being used rather than “if”. There are also a couple of other schools which have expressed a strong interest in the BARC project.

In the Netherlands…

Bert Reyntjes of de Boutbouwer is building a St Ayles to encourage the take-up of the class on the continent. A second skiff is to be built at the Amsterdam boat show in the first week in March. I am waiting to hear more from Bert, and will hopefully have some pictures from him later in the week.

In Australia…

It hasn’t happened for sure yet, but the Jordan Boats agents there have been having a few more enquiries about the class, and will be doing a “Push” at the Australian Wooden Boat Festival in Hobart next week. They will be helped by Iain Oughtred’s presence at the festival.

A meeting is planned in Troon Library on Tuesday 8th February at 7.00pm to discuss forming a boat building group/club for Troon. All interested members of the public are invited. A boat kit has been donated to the local secondary school Marr College in Troon by Boyd Tunnock of Tunnocks Biscuits and premises to build it are being looked for in the town. Carrick Academy in Maybole has also been donated a boat kit by a local resident and this is going to be built in the school next term. A further boat is going to be purchased soon by a group from Ayr who intend doing some rowing for charity (more about this later). Interest in the project has also been received from Girvan and residents of the town and district can contact the number below to get more information on this.

If you are interested in getting involved in building and rowing a boat for your town or community in South Ayrshire contact:

Vincent McWhirter
Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Development Worker
01292 319357
07875776034

email: vincent.mcwhirter@south-ayrshire.gov.uk

Yes, you read that right – the name boat for the class finally took to the water at Anstruther on a blustery and cold day, becoming the 12th St Ayles Skiff to be launched.

St Ayles afloat

Somone was happy!

This skiff was originally started by Alec Jordan with five students from Adam Smith College in Kirkcaldy.  The hull was built over last winter by the students, and after they finished college in the summer, she was completed by members of the Scottish Fisheries Museum Boats Club, who more normally spend their time maintaining the Reaper and the White Wing.

The Boats Club have made some changes from the original design, some worked well, others need a little bit of adjustment.

There are going to be quite a few more skiffs launched in the coming weeks – watch this space!

Stornoway Rowing Club are not going to let the lack of a boat stop them having their first rowing race.  The club has recently been formed with the intention of building and racing St Ayles skiffs in the waters around the Western Isles town.  Fundraising is well under way, and the club hopes that its sponsored row on Saturday 29 January will raise sufficient funds to allow them to purchase their first St Ayles kit. 

The challenge will take place at the Co-op supermarket in the town.  The rowers will start pulling on a rowing machine at 2pm, the same time as the ferry “Isle of Lewis” leaves the town for the mainland.  The rowers hope to complete their virtual 50 mile voyage before the ferry reaches Ullapool.  Any supporters are warmly invited to cheer them on and to make a donation, as they race the Isle in the aisles for an Ayles.  (thank you , I will get my jacket). 

The club now have a website:  http://stornowayrowingclub.wordpress.com/

Was it to do with the short oars? Was it the steel pins?

I think it may have more to do with their dedication – slightly belatedly, some pictures of what the good rowers of Port Seton and Cockenzie were up to on the 2nd of January, and their dedication when the temperature falls.

2nd of January 2011

5th December 2010