A sharp, sparklingly sunny Sunday morning saw us leave the Port Seton boat shed in high spirits, just after 9am. Destined in convoy for the silvery Tay, the plan was to row Boatie Blest and  Boatie Rows, the brand new Black Agnes from Dunbar, Jenny Skylark from Portobello, the Anstruther Boats Chris o’Kanaird and St Ayles, and Ferry Lass of South Queensferry, down river from Perth to Newburgh and then on under the Tay rail bridge to Wormit. Not a row for the faint hearted we discovered, but on the day there were no faint hearts; shoogly legs and blistered hands yes, but no faint hearts as each team gave a great account of themselves.

The slipway and the car park at the sea cadets’ hut in Perth was a bustle of rubber and wood and waterproofs, clanking metal contraptions to carry our lovely boats, and Tesco’s bags weighed down with enough rolls, pork pies, cakes and crisps to feed the Armada. As ever there were appreciating eyes run over the different boats and any new bits added; a lovely bit of sign painting on the Black Agnes, smart new red oars on  Boatie Rows, but in the end there is no skiff as bonnie as your own, and why would it be any different.

Finally, at the crack of noon, every boat was afloat, including the International Rescue Team in a very stylish Zodiac! A Westerly tail wind and 20 miles to go, we were off and rowing. Some teams had been assembled to give newcomers a chance, some for a training run, some just out for the jolly. Whatever the reason we certainly got a lot of rowing in!

It was a day full of light, clouds chased over the sun, and the reed fringed river was sparkling and silver. Sand banks were avoided as we rowed, on and on and on. Boats fell behind and caught up, bow sitters changed in with spent rowers, and still everyone rowed. Team Zodiac was alert and waiting to ‘fling the thingy’ should anyone fall overboard. As miles wore on and rowers drooped, the Zodiac would offer a rescue package; a wee nudge down the river, or more sensitively named, ‘the push of shame’ by Andrew. Most crews enjoyed the shame, and rowed on refreshed afterwards. For the statisticians among us? Only two boats did not avail themselves of the push of shame at some point, Boatie Rows and Ferry Lass.

The Flotilla dropped in at Newburgh for rest, tea and cakes and in some cases a crew change. A longish walk to the boat club provided relief for some of us. The Newburgh builders took the chance to have a good look at our boats, and for us, it was great to see their new boat in the making.

No hanging about though, lest we become mud bound, so with the cake and pork pie inside us instead of in the Tesco’s bags we set off again to conquer the Tay. We rowed on past more sand banks, where seals lolled about, and small birds peeked from the reeds, through changing light and fatigue, people began hailing the push of shame. From Boatie Blest, Gareth’s voice singing out the rhythm offered a more prosaic momentum. Boatie Rows began to disappear in one direction and Ferry Lass in the other, both were strong, and no push required.

After a detour when we thought Boatie Rows might be going to the pictures in Dundee, she turned and headed for Wormit, according to Stuarts plan, to be first to reach the boatclub slipway. Over the next twenty minutes the other boats came in one by one, crews tired, but straight into the business of getting the boat up the slipway, and onto the trailer, aye, it’s a relaxing thing the rowing.

More tea, more cake, more crack and laughter, as well as a bit of showing off of blisters,  well earned, and fair enough.

What a day, we had certainly ‘done the Tay’, the sun had stayed with us, as did our good humour and sheer pleasure in what we do in coastal rowing. It’s tiring and hard work, you even have to put the boat away yourselves when you get home! But, I know when I got back to Port Seton, I said ‘look, we’re back at our own wee harbour, are we not lucky’ and you know what, I bet at some point during the day every rower thought to themselves, ‘am I not lucky’.

When’s the next thing then?

A big thank you to, Brenda from the Sea Cadets in Perth, Danny from the Wormit sailing club, Sam in Newburgh, and Andrew who set up the whole thing.

For more photos (and a different perspective) have a look at the RowPorty http://rowporty.org.uk/6-go-mad-on-the-silvery-tayblog here:

The meeting in Annan three weeks ago was enthusiastically attended, with a kit order resulting. Before too long we’ll be expecting a few more from along the Solway Coast.

Both Newburgh and Troon have ordered second kits.

There have been new contacts from a other locations around the country, and a couple from further south – way further south. When these firm up a little I will publish more.

Alec J

Completed in February at Lake Champlain Maritime Museum in Vermont, they could not be launched immediately due to Lake Champlain being the way it always is in February – frozen.

Their actual launching took place at the Snow Row at Hull, Massachusetts on the 10th March.

Perseverance took to the water a few minutes before Resilience, then were almost immediately rowed in the Regatta.  For nore info, go here and scroll up the page for this year’s detail.

The sity in the background is Boston.

Thanks to Nick Patch for the pics.

Alec J

If possible, I would like to see mould sets that have been used for one build being re-used by other communities.

So, if you have your moulds still sitting in the back of your building shed, and wish to make them available to someone else, saving a bit of a tree, and the new club a bit of money, please let me know so that I can put them in touch for private negotiation.

Alec Jordan

alec@jordanboats.co.uk

Now, what must be the smallest, and possibly most difficult building shed in Helmsdale’s old Coastguard store on the harbour.

They have moved on since these pictures were taken, and are just about to start painting. We’ll look forward to seeing them on the water before too long.

This year, the accomodation will be expanded so that 18 skiffs are invited. We are looking at options for a few more should there be the demand for places.

As clubs are starting planning for which regattas they are attending during the coming season, the draw for Portsoy is being made much earlier.

The Regatta will be organised by Jordan Boats in conjunction with the STBF under the Rules of the SCRA.

The race program will be for a similar course to last year, with the actual classes to be raced similar to 2011 but to be confirmed at a later date.

Priority of berths for Portsoy will be allocated as follows:

1. Clubs north of a line drawn from Helensburgh to Perth.
2. All other Clubs
3. Second skiffs from any Club

In the event of more entries being received than there are places,  a random draw will be made  at whichever level of priority we are going to run out of spaces.

Applications from Club Secretaries should be made to Portsoy2012@jordanboats.co.uk by 6pm on Wednesday 22nd February 2012.  Successful clubs will be notified by Friday 24 Feb.  A reserve list will be maintained in the case that succesful applicants have to withdraw.  At this stage we are looking for entries from skiffs.  Successful applicants will be asked to list their crews and categories in which they would like to race nearer the time.

It is intended that new clubs will race in a separate “1st Year” category.   New clubs may race in the “Senior” events if they so desire, but this will commit them to racing all their crews as “Seniors”.  The Organisers may use their discretion to allow clubs who have rowed in a St Ayles Skiff prior to 2012 to row as 1st Years, and may also require clubs new to the St Ayles but with extensive previous rowing experience to row as Seniors.

Subject to consultation with the attending clubs, a shorter course will be marked for 1st Year Clubs and the older age classes.

Applications will only be accepted from Clubs with fully paid SCRA subscriptions for 2012.  Subscription status will be checked with the SCRA Treasurer immediately following application closure. Applications are also welcomed from clubs outside the UK, for whom special arrangements will apply.

Clubs in the process of building their first skiffs may apply for places at Portsoy, and indeed are welcomed.  However, the builders must have a realistic expectation that their skiff will be launched by 12 May to allow for sufficient practice time.   If an accepted skiff has not been launched by 12 May, its place may be offered to clubs on the reserve list.

All senior clubs will be expected to supply at least one race Umpire.  1st year clubs will be expected to supply an assistant umpire to start learning the “trade”.

That is the formal stuff – now some detail about what will be happening…

There will be improvements in the race facilities, particularly the start.

Camping for all Skiffies will once again be at the Soy Loch site.  The shower and toilet blocks are to be improved.  The STBF are coming forward with other improvements relating to entertainment on the Saturday evening. We have been promised a definite time slot for the prizegiving on the Sunday afternoon.

More information on the Portsoy Regatta will be posted on a sub-tab of Events 2012.

http://www.scottishtraditionalboatfestival.org.uk/

Alec Jordan

I have now had confirmation from our Australian agent that he finally has a cheque for a St Ayles skiff kit.  This is being purchased by a group in Franklin Tasmania called Women on the Water.  Having seen some of the emails regarding the purchase, it is very evident that there is a high level of enthusiasm about their project.

With one group having made the commitment to build, we are expecting two or three more kits to be ordered very soon from other groups who have expressed strong interest.

Alec J

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

This week has seen another three orders for St Ayles Skiffs; from Girvan, Islay, and second from Newcastle-upon-Tyne.

We have now sold kits for 49 skiffs in the UK, two south of the border.  It is looking very likely that there will be another three or four early in 2012.

I frequently receive enquiries from further south, and sometime, someone from a bit further south of Newcastle is going to bite.  Even if it is not for a St Ayles, the idea of a community built kit boat has taken hold and I have had further enquiries from people looking at building local designs on the Solent and the Thames.

There are still a few holes in the geographic coverage of Scotland, but there has been interest from these areas, apart from the South West from the Solway around to Maybole.

Doing a bit of totting up in starting preparation for the 2012 Portsoy Regatta, it looks like there will be about 33 St Ayles Skiffs on the water by the spring – maybe more if the ones who have just ordered or about to order really pull out the stops to get their skiffs on the water.  Would be a wonderful sight to see them all in one place!

In the USA, there are now 2 skiffs launched, and another 14 building, mainly in New England, but also in Pennsylvania, New York state, and Florida.  The Portland ladies have been in touch and are keen to visit Scotland next year. There is other interest in the USA, and there has also been strong interest from a couple of places in Canada, though these have not yet translated into hard orders as yet.

The “order” that we had from Australia did not actually happen in the end, but, our agents there have told me that there are enthusiastic supporters of the idea, and that Tasmania is the most likely candidate for the first Australian Skiff.

We can be confident that the numbers of St Ayles skiffs will continue to grow both in Scotland and further afield.

Alec Jordan
Jordan Boats

If you’d like to have a copy to grace your wall, please follow the link to the Ullapool website where you can have a look at all the pages, and the address to get in touch to order your copy.

Alec J