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

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

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.

Alec Jordan

Eight hours after “Grace” became the first St Ayles skiff to be launched off English shores, “Rosie” became the first St Ayles launched onto the waters of the Pacific Ocean at Portland Oregon.

A group of ten ladies under the guidance of Peter Crim of the Wind and Oar Boat School have built her over the the past 3½ months.  There is an intention to build another two over the the winter so that racing can commence in the spring of next year.

More pictures and video of the launch are on the Doryman of blog Michael Bogoger, who was present at the launch – lucky man.

The ladies have made a beautiful job of her, and we will look forward to them being able to come to Scotland to race here.

Alec J

Thanks to Doryman for the pictures.

After the traditional naming ceremony and blessing, “Grace” was toasted with Lindisfarne mead and the first crew set off into the North Sea with the Northumbrian flag flying proudly from the bow. The sea conditions were relatively benign prior to the remnants of a hurricane due to arrive tomorrow.

Grace made several trips throughout the morning as crews changed to give everyone at least one experience of coastal rowing. As we had seen at Anstruther and North Berwick the skiff rode the swell well giving confidence to the inexperienced. Two new locals were enthused enough to row and another three are keen.

Weather permitting we will refine our footrests and the lashing to the kabes over the next two weeks as we quickly get in some practice. We will then take Grace to proudly join the other St Ayles skiffs rowing the Tweed on 25 September 2011 to say thank you for their support and encouragement.

Charlie Parker
Gosforth Coastal Rowing

Rosie almost ready for launching.

Rosie is to be launched on Saturday, the first of three skiffs planned for construction by Wind and Oar Boat School over the winter.  She has been built in a very short space of time by a group of very committed ladies.  The kit was delivered in late May, and to have her ready for launch in slightly over three months is an achievement of which the ladies can be very proud.  Our congratulations to them.

More pictures and video links will be posted after the event.

Elsewhere in the USA, a St Ayles kit has been ordered by Moravian Academy  in Bethlehem Pennsylvania, about 50 miles west of New York City, bringing the total in the USA to 14.  There are several other east coast schools and communities which have indicated that they will be purchasing kits in the very near future.

Alec J