Since early December, when skiff No 49 was ordered for construction in Newcastle upon Tyne, various candidates have presented themselves for the purchase of the 50th. Almost every time I emailed Robbie Wightman to let him know that I had had another “Note of Interest”, he would reply telling me that he had received some interest from another group.
We also heard through the grapevine that another community had received its lottery funding for a skiff, adding to the list of possibles.
Tonight, after much anticipation, I can reveal that the 50th skiff in the UK and 70th around the world, has been ordered by North Queensferry Boat Club.
I went over to NQ to receive the cheque, and have a look at the progress on their first skiff. Pictures will be posted in the morning, but I would say that the real competition with South Queensferry is starting now, as the quality of their build is of a very high standard. If they can carry on as they are, then SQ are going to have to raise their game in the boatbuilding stakes.
It says a lot for the enthusiasm of NQ that they have found the money for a second skiff already. They are aiming for a launch date of 6 May for the first skiff. Will six weeks practice be sufficient for them to seriously challenge SQ at their regatta? Will the Queensferries become the real “needle match” in Scottish Coastal Rowing?
Alec Jordan