The Scottish Coastal Rowing Project » News

Sail and Oar, Cumbrae, 14th & 15th August

robbiew — Fri, 06 Aug 2010 21:23:13 +0000

Ian Clark and I have volunteered to organise a regatta on the Saturday of this event for the St. Ayles Skiffs. We are also planning to take some of the Royal West fixed seat boats down to allow SCRA member clubs and the general public access to them. Think Ian has phoned round most of the clubs to advise of this. If any clubs would like to take part and have not already done so please get in touch ASAP so that we can arrange a race programme. Adam Graham adam_graham@hotmail.com Royal West of SABC

Royal West Community Build in Greenock

robbiew — Wed, 04 Aug 2010 21:56:30 +0000

Royal West in Greenock have ordered two kits. They hope to start construction on or about 16th August. They have gone into partnership with a local training trust whereby Royal West provide all the materials, boatbuilding expertise and project management and the training trust provide trainees and a workshop. The local authority and sports council are also helping with funding on the basis that once the skiffs are launched the trainees, and groups from within the community, will have access and coaching.

Having seen most of the launched skiffs the team at Royal West are interested in some of the bespoke features, primarily the gunwale and foot rest designs. In the spirit of the association they would love to trade our knowledge of fixed seat rowing, coaching and training for access to drawings, the boats and the builders! Adam Graham can be contacted at the email address below. Royal West also extend an open invitation to any SCRA club to come down to Royal West and see the types of boats they have been using for the last 143 years! Contact Adam or Ian Clark who would welcome the opportunity to show you round the boatsheds and take you out on the Clyde. Having been the beacon of coastal rowing that has been kept burning in Scotland they are very excited by the revival of fixed seat rowing and keen to get people and skiffs on the water.

Adam Graham adam_graham@hotmail.com Royal West of SABC

Cumbrae 14 and 15 August

robbiew — Tue, 06 Jul 2010 20:20:52 +0000

GalGael are hosting a festival on the Isle of Cumbrae on the weekend of 14/15th August. They would love as many skiffs as possible to attend this international event, which is the first of its kind to be held. There will be visiting traditional coastal rowing boats visiting from Spain,Portugal, Ireland and we hope france and this will provide everyone with an opportunity to meet likeminded people from far and wide.The visiting international crews are all keen to have a go in the skiffs and would love folk to have a go in their boats. If any skiffies would like to take part then could you please let Martin Hughes at Galgael know asap.

www.sailandoar.co.uk and www.galgael.org

Eyemouth Skiff Launching Sunday 11 July

robbiew — Thu, 01 Jul 2010 21:28:18 +0000

Eyemouth are very confident, and are challenging local skiffs to take them on within 45 minutes of their launch! Eyemouth are putting on skiff races in the three categories: mens, womens and mixed open crews. Enjoy their Herring Festival on 11 July:

Team briefings between 12-1 at Dickson’s Yard behind Cafe Questo on the Harbourfront

1:15pm Launch by the newly crowned Herring Queen followed by a blessing by George Shaw

2pm Races commence either in the bay or a time trial in the harbour if weather is not good. http://www.berwickshirecoast.org.uk/

Congratulations to Portsoy Winners

robbiew — Mon, 28 Jun 2010 22:58:33 +0000

Safe to say that everyone was a winner. The skiff racing at Portsoy was a fantastic event in wonderful weather.

It was at Portsoy last year that promotion really started for the Scottish Coastal Rowing Project, with Iain Oughtred still working away at his drawing board. It was fantastic to see six skiffs racing at the event, especially with the knowledge that many more are already in build.

Recognition of the attention that the project has received can be seen from the fact that Scotland’s First minister came along in order to watch our racing and present the prizes. Every one was a winner, but some are more winner than others, so congratulations to Port Seton for winning three events: the mixed open, men’s over 40 and Women’s over 40; to North Berwick for winning the mixed over 40, to Coigach for winning the men’s open, and to Anstruther for winning the Women’s open.

See post below for Flickr link.

Portsoy Skiff-fest

Alec — Mon, 28 Jun 2010 22:22:39 +0000

From the reaction of the Organisers of Portsoy when I said goodbye to them on Monday morning, the title of this post will be the show’s title next year. I have booked the whole of the Links campsite for Skiffies for next year (I wish).

First set of pictures on Flickr have been posted, courtesy of Chris Perkins. I could not decide which of them should be in this post!

I’m expecting to get a link to Kathy Mansfield’s set in a day or two, and I will get the official results up here in the morning.

To all who attended this weekend’s fun, a massive thank you, to all who haven’t yet built themselves a Skiff, time to get building to join the fun!

Alec J

St Ayles at Beale Park Boat Show

chrispn — Sat, 05 Jun 2010 22:35:13 +0000

Watercraft Magazine is focussing on Coastal Rowing in the display boats on their stand this year. The St Ayles has been joined by a Cornish Gig displaying Coastal Rowing from opposite ends of the country. It would be good to report how the St Ayles has the edge over the Gig, sadly this cannot be said. Looking at the relative waterline lengths gives one reason for the trouncing the Skiff received on the R Thames, the experience and fitness of the Lyme Regis Rowers compared with the UK-HBBR scratch crew may also have had something to do with it.

'Chris O'Kanaird' on the R Thames

The opposition

Much interest has been shown in the Scottish Coastal Rowing Project at the show with some coming along specifically to see the boat.

The first Regatta – Anstruther – 29 May 2010

robbiew — Sun, 30 May 2010 12:49:42 +0000

Anstruther's Women's 40+

The first St Ayles Skiff Regatta started at 1pm on the 29th of May at Anstruther. 6 skiffs were present and around 33 crews . The races started at 10 minute intervals during the afternoon on a 600 yard course along the West Pier. Port Seton won the overall trophy, with Portobello and Anstruther also winning race categories.

A fuller report will be posted in due course. The Regatta coincided with the Scottish Fisheries Museum’s open day.

More Pictures of the day can be seen on Flickr

Some video from Bob Jefferson on YouTube

Port Seton Skiff Races: 5 June

robbiew — Tue, 25 May 2010 22:18:29 +0000

Port Seton are kindly inviting skiffs to race at Boatie Blest , part of the 3 harbours arts festival on the morning of 5 June. Yvonne writes: Racing between Cockenzie and Port Seton Harbour, distance about the same as the Anstruther races. The tide is early so the racing will be in the morning. Specific times to follow. Also if any teams are coming up the day before to let me know as there may be accomodation in Cockenzie. If I could be contacted as soon as possible with the number of skiffs attending, teams and number of people looking for accomodation. Races will be held for categories of Open Men, Open women, mixed and u18. North Berwick will be there, and I think Portobello too, as well as the hosts. Others very welcome.
contact ylmurphy@tiscali.co.uk

Queensferry: 7 May 2010

robbiew — Tue, 27 Apr 2010 22:18:42 +0000

Graham Leith is the secretarty ( I will e mail his details to you, unless he wants to post them up here himself!) and Mike McDowall is the chair. I suspect you will be able to track them down locally. Not aware of a web presence for them yet, but there is strong interest and the plan is to take the prototype over for a row on 20 June.