Archive for October, 2011
Finding Royal West in Greenock
Posted by adam in Uncategorized on 26 October 2011
For anyone attending this weekend’s events at Royal West who has not been before the address and directions can be found at the following webpage http://www.rwsabc.co.uk/about/location/
Once you get to Greenock please follow signs for Gourock. If you are coming from the East turn Right at the traffic lights beside McMillan Motors, this will take you down onto The Esplanade, we are at the West end of it. If you are coming up the coast road from Ayrshire or off the ferry from Argyll come through Gourock and turn Left immediately after HMS Dalriada (Red brick built Admiralty Building on the river side of the road), we are on the left as you turn left.
The kettle will be on.
“See you at the club”
Adam
Minutes of the AGM in Portsoy
DRAFT
Minutes of the Annual General Meeting of the Scottish Coastal Rowing Association
Portsoy 3 July 2011
Present:
Robbie Wightman, North Berwick, Convenor
Topher Dawson, Ullapool, Treasurer
Ian Clark, RWSABC, Secretary
Barbara Elliot, Anstruther
Trisha Bone, Anstruther
Gareth Jones, Port Seton
Alistair Mackie, Dunbar
Stuart Mack, Port Seaton
Siobhan Johnson, Queensferry
Peter Locke, Queensferry
Archie Johnson, Port Seton
Agreement of last minutes
The minutes of the first, establishing, Meeting in Anstruther, were agreed, and the Minutes of the Extraordinary General Meeting October 2010, which had been posted onto the website, were agreed. The decision to move the date of the AGM from June to October was ratified.
Reports
Adam Graham had sent a report on Coaching and Development which was distributed.
Topher Dawson gave a brief report on Finance which showed that the Association had funds of ₤ 284.00
Ian Clark reported briefly on meetings he had attended in Troon hosted by Vincent McWhirter (new skiff to be built), and Cumbrae who are building a skiff, contact with Ronnie Younger in Ayr who wants to build many skiffs, as well as participation in the Cross-Party Group of the Scottish Parliament on Recreational Boating and Marine Tourism, chaired by Stuart McMillan, MSP which was very useful for maintaining contact with related groups, as well as a possible lobbying forum for SCRA. And finally, the need for more volunteers for Committee. He had received a cheque for ₤10 from Jim McRitchie, ex RWABC member, and an Umpire in Scottish Rowing, to encourage the set-up of some form of Associate membership of the Association.
Robbie Wightman reported on the success of the Association to date, and the pleasing participation of so many clubs. He commented that he could see the development of two distinct interests within the SCRA, competitive and recreational/community rowing. Siobhan Johnston suggested that there should be different race categories to allow beginners for example to compete. Archie commented that people want a chance to row, but also to have a chance to win. Robbie suggested that there should be a Cruising Prize.
Relationship with Scottish Rowing
It was agreed that we should continue to maintain an informal relationship with Scottish Rowing, and not seek affiliation at this time.
Committee members
It was agreed that existing members could continue until the next AGM (Ian Clark wishes to stand down as Secretary). Stuart Mack was welcomed as an additional Committee member.
Robbie Wightman proposed a vote of thanks for Alec Jordan, and the efforts he had made to help the success of the SCRA.
The meeting closed, with a date for the October AGM to be announced as soon as possible.
AGM Weekend, 29th-30th October
Chippy McNish vists Carrick Castle
There has been a great uptake on the Coaches event being organised for the Saturday. There are currently about 20 coaches from 10 clubs attending along with 13 willing guinea pigs, sorry novice rowers from Lochgilphead Joint Campus School. The novices will be instructed by the coaches under the supervision of Topher, Ian & Adam. Basic coaching principals will be demonstrated and discussed as well as practical advise given on key topics. (No more volunteer dummies required for the Immersion Recovery Drill) There will also be a debrief and Q&A session on the Saturday afternoon.
The seminar session on the Sunday morning (without guinea pigs) should also be a good opportunity for clubs to get together and discuss regatta organisation, umpiring and PVG (Protection of Vulnerable Groups). There are 17 people registered to attend this.
The AGM on Sunday starts at 2pm but all are invited to arrive earlier and join in the informal discussions over lunch. There might also be the opporunity to get afloat on the Sunday prior to the AGM.
“See you at the Club”
Adam
Wemyss Skiff launched
Posted by Alec in Uncategorized on 18 October 2011
At the beginning of September, Robbie posted about the new smaller skiff in development.
After a month or so of hard graft, “Swan” took to the water at Ullapool on Saturday 8 October on a very blustery, wet afternoon. Around 12 of the Ullapool skiffies were present for the launch, and most had a play in her with very positive feedback.
Alec taking Swan for her maiden row. Pic courtesy of Chris Perkins
Then as a double with Sue. Courtesy Chris Perkins
The Wemyss Skiff is intended to be used for a single adult, two adults, or two light rowers and a cox. As these different configurations will require different locations for trimming her in the water, I had a friend make up some steel rowlocks that would clamp to the gunwale so that they can easily be moved.
I had taken a guess at the locations of the rowlocks, and was slightly out, so when she was rowed as a double at Ullapool, she was a wee bit down at the bow. After Ullapool, Jane & I rowed her on Loch Maree on Sunday afternoon – sadly no pictures taken – then took her over to Skye for Iain Oughtred to inspect and row. With the rowlocks moved to better positions, she looked and rowed a lot better.
With Iain Oughtred at Portree
She has proved to be a very light, responsive, and fun boat to row. She is also fast!
There is still some re-development work to do on her, and the installation of the buoyancy tanks, but Jordan Boats are taking orders for the kits now for delivery in early November. The cost of the kit will be £889, with 6mm planking, and 5mm tanks. Plywood only kits for building subsequent hulls will be £735. Orders taken before the SCRA AGM will receive a 10% discount! Jordan Boats will be offering a fittings kit including 4 rowlocks, the swivelling gates that are seen in the pictures, and other fittings to allow the seats and footrests to be moved very easily. This hasn’t been fully costed yet, but is likely to be around £200.
And if you’d like to see how she is on the water in moving images…
Alec Jordan
SCRA Coaching & regatta seminar in conjunction with AGM !!!!! LATEST UPDATE !!!!
Posted by adam in Uncategorized on 12 October 2011
As you will be aware Royal West has been asked to host the SCRA AGM on the afternoon of Sunday 30th October. To make the trip all the way to the wilds of Greenock more worthwhile we have arranged a Coaches day for the Saturday and a Regatta & Umpiring seminar for the Sunday morning. Please see below proposed programme.
Friday night
Meet and greet. The Club is open from 17:30. We have a Private Function booked in the Club lounge but anyone arriving on the Friday evening is welcome to come into the Club bar and while away the evening.
Saturday
09:00-09:30 Participant registration
09:30-10:00 Introduction & coaches briefing
10:00-11:00 Practical demonstration and participation in the introduction of a group of novices to rowing & coxing (Land based)
11:00-13:00 Practical demonstration and participation in the introduction of a group of novices to rowing & coxing (Water based)
13:00-13:30 Lunch
13:30-14:00 Explanation of key elements of Immersion Recovery Drill, teaching it and participating in it (Land based)
14:00-16:00 Immersion Recovery Drill, teaching it and participating in it (Water based)
16:00-16:30 Recover boats
16:30-17:30 Debrief, Q&A in the Club Lounge with a coffee and biscuits.
17:30-19:30 Showers, dinner, beer
19:30-00:30 Halloween disco in the Club, fancy dress optional but preferred
Sunday
09:00-09:30 Participant registration
10:00-10:45 Regatta Symposium. What makes a good regatta, and any discussion around dates
11:00-11:45 Umpiring session. Run through the rules, a discussion about what rules anyone may wish to have revised, also a discussion about standardising the way umpires apply the rules.
11:45-12:00 Break 15 minutes
12:00-12:45 a discussion and/or presentation on what clubs should be aware of as regards the Protection of Vulnerable Groups (PVG) requirements.
If conditions are OK there may be an opportunity to get afloat between 12:00-14:00, when the AGM starts
14:00 AGM of the Scottish Coastal Roawing Association, agenda posted elsewhere on the website.
If for some reason we cannot get afloat on the Saturday then we have covered demo space downstairs and comfortable lecture space upstairs.
The non-AGM activity is broken down into three sessions; Sat am, Sat pm/evening & Sunday am. People can attend as much or as little as they like.
There will be a charge to cover fuel for the rescue/coaching boat, tea & coffee all day both days, lunch on both days, printing of handouts and the evening function on the Saturday. The charge will be £ 5/session (£ 15 for the Saturday morning-Sunday lunchtime). Any profit from this will go to SCRA funds.
We can supply contact information for local accommodation on request.
Please come back to me with feedback on numbers as soon as possible.
Adam
Tay Away Day
Posted by robbiew in Uncategorized on 12 October 2011
Boats Launching on Tay- photo from St Ayles Website
Skiffies from four clubs – Boatie Blest, RowPorty, St Ayles and North Berwick enjoyed a wet row down the River Tay from Perth.
The boats were launched from the Sea Cadets slipway in Perth. The natural cuurrent of the river, combined with the ebb tide made for a very fast speed over ground to Newbugh, around 8 miles downstream. The crews were met there by the local group who are about to start building a St Ayles skiff and were therefore keen to look over the (wet) boats.
.After a lunch in the shelter of the building shed, most crews decided that rather then setting off in the pouring rain again, they would lift out at Newburgh and save the rest for a better day. Portobello soldiered on however, and followed the Tay all the way down under the railway bridge to Wormit, a total row of around 20 miles.
The crews that undertook the row enjoyed themselves, and have just about dried out. Another play on the Tay is now planned for Saturday 22 October 2011.
2012 Regatta Calendar Reminder
Posted by adam in Uncategorized on 9 October 2011
Just a gentle reminder to have something to me by about 18th October so that we can discuss and agree the final calendar at the AGM on 30th October. The dates reserved so far are as follows:
5th/6th May Cockenzie & Port Seton
19th May St Ayles RC, Anstruther
2nd/3rd June Royal West, Greenock
17th June Queensferry RC
23rd/24th June Portsoy
14th July Newburgh
21st July Dalriada Festival, Antrim
28th/29th July RowPorty, Portobello
11th/12th August Loch Broom
18th/19th August Sail & Oar Festival, Millport
1st/2nd Sept North Berwick RC
15th Sept Great River Race, London
When looking at dates please avoid creating blocks of more than two regattas in succession, if possible.
Ardersier needs your votes! RBS Community Force
Posted by Alec in Uncategorized on 7 October 2011
The Royal Bank of Scotland Community Force grant scheme has taken the interest of many of the St Ayles clubs, with applications needing your votes.
Amongst these is the the fledgling Ardersier Boat Club, who are in the process of raising funds for their first St Ayles. Their RBS page is here.
They are the most recent addition to the Moray Firth clubs building a St Ayles, so please get on your computers and give them a vote or three!
Other Clubs with Community Force pages include:
Cockenzie & Port Seton
Eyemouth
Troon
Portobello
Newhaven
Any others who I have missed out, please let me know.
Troon Launch “Marr Voyager”
Posted by robbiew in News, Uncategorized on 3 October 2011
Troon has become the third community on the Clyde to launch a St Ayles skiff, after Greenock (with two) and Cumbrae. The Troon boat was named “Marr Voyager”, following an open competition in the town. The naming ceremony was carried out by Boyd Tunnock, who had sponsored the building of the boat and is a strong supporter of the project and its aims.
Boyd Tunnock Speaks up for Marr Voyager
Vincent McWhirter, who had co-ordinated the effort from the start, thanked Mr Tunnock for his support, as well as various local businesses who had assisted, including West Coast Marine services who gave the builders space in a shed at Troon marina. This makes the boat fairly unique amongst the skiffs, for having been build in a boat yard! Vincent also thanked the people of Troon for getting behind the project, and indeed many of them had turned up to see the boat being launched.
The boat was welcomed onto the water by the local ILB and by Royal West of Scotland Boat Club, who had brought their St Ayles skiff “Chippy McNish” along to give Marr Voyager some company. We all liked the purple sheer strake, which was complimented by purple kit, purple and gold paint on the oar blades, and even purple mudguards on the trailer! ” The collar and cuffs match”.
Youngsters undertaking training and development through the Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme benefited from working alongside a dedicated silver haired team to complete the skiff. South Ayrshire councillor Bill McIntosh spoke of the exciting prospect of seeing the boat used by youngsters for the expedition section of the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, seeing the youngsters involvement in the project through a natural progression.
A rowing club is being formed in Troon to look after and use the boat. If you are interested in joining please go to http://trooncoastalrowing.org.uk/ or contact Vincent McWhirter, Duke of Edinburgh Awards, School Development Worker on 01292 319357, or at the Community Learning & Development Office, Troon Library.
Robbie Wightman,
Convenor, SCRA
East Lothian and Borders Championships 2011
Posted by robbiew in Uncategorized on 2 October 2011
Open Ladies from North Berwick and Cockenzie Port Seton racing for the line (Peter Nisbet)
Clubs from East Lothian and the Borders met on neutral waters for a Championship Regatta on Saturday 1 October. Conditions were flat calm on Whitadder Resevoir in the Lammermuir Hills. Cockenzie Port Seton dealt with the altitude best! They had wins in the East Lothian Championships against local rivals Dunbar and North Berwick in Mixed and ladies open, and Mens and Ladies over 35. North Berwick won the Men’s Open Title and the Over 5o mixed the latter giving the most exciting racing of the day with Dunbar taking an early lead before being overhauled.
The Borders Championship was decided in a one off race, with St Abbs coming in just ahead of an enthusiastic but as yet inexperienced crew representing Eyemouth.
In the Under 19′s Race, Cockenzie Port Seton led home a North Berwick/ Eyemouth composite crew, and a crew of youngsters from Duns enjoying their first outing in a St Ayles.
A sociable day of friendly competition was enjoyed by all.
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