RowPorty welcomed coastal rowing clubs from all over Scotland to their regatta on 28 July 2012.  Fife boats were out in force, with newly Launched “Glide” from Newburgh made her regatta debut, along with ”Partan” from Crail and “Fisher Lass” from Pittenweem.  “St Margarets Hope” from North Queensferry was also crewed up for some of the racing at what was the second regatta for the Club at the North end of the Forth Bridge.  A crew of visitors from the Clyde were also in attendance, with members of Troon Coastal Rowing Club working together with Royal West of Scotland Boat Club to produce a couple of composite crews. 

The front end of the racing was dominated by a very strong Coigach team, who made sure that the long trip down from Achiltibuie was worthwhile.  They won the first three races of the day, including open men and open women, before Boatie Blest Coastal Rowing Club and Choir from Cockenzie and Port Seton got a win on the board from their women in the 40+ category.  Coigach won both the 50+ categories and held off a strong challenge from North Berwick in the 40+ Men category. The roles were reversed in the Mixed open where there was exciting racing between the first and third buoys, with North Berwick managing to pull ahead and get the clear water round the buoy, which they were unwilling to give up on the haul back to the beach.  North Berwick were awarded a win in the mixed 60+ category and Coigach for the 240+ combined age crew (a category in which Queensferry were able to put out a crew including their 82 year old powerhouse!

In all the racing there were close battles for the remaining positions with crews working hard all the way back in to the dramatic beach finish.  Special mention to Newburgh on their debut, who managed a creditable fourth in the mens open despite breaking an oar at the third mark.

Photos by Alec Jordan.  We will post a link to the full results as soon as they are available online.