As a reminder of a fantastic weekend, some photos taken by Chris Perkins….

Close racing in the Men's open, Coigach holding off North Berwick and Anstruther

Portobello and Newhaven admire the snowy hills.Boatie Blest 35+

Rowers from Anstruther, Cockenzie/ Port Seaton, Loch Broom SC, Portobello, Newhaven, North Berwick and Ullapool joined hosts Coigach Community Rowing Club for a stunning weekend of coastal rowing in the remote Coigach peninsular in the North West of Scotland. Saturday saw a sprint course of 1000m without a turn. Up to nine boats were on the start line for each race, with the stunning backdrop of Islands and snow covered mountains. There was a tail wind for the race, which reduced to a pleasant breeze after about noon.

Anstruther won the first race, women’s open, before the Coigach lass started her winning habit, bringing home line honours in the Men’s open. North Berwick took the next race, women’s 45+. The visitors from Anstruther brought home a victory in the over 50 mixed and were joined by North Berwick youngster Patrick Waite to win the in the under 30 mixed. However the home club swept the boards in the remaining five races.

After the Saturday Night Ceilidh and scrummy scran, slightly bleary eyed rowers were woken up on the Sunday for a stunning row out to the Isle of Tanera. Four boats raced, the rest simply cruised the 2km out to the largest of the Summer Isles, where the winning team, Coigach, were treated to silver service in the cafe, whilst the rest of the crews and their supporters, who travelled mostly by ferry, enjoyed a light lunch on much more practical wooden trays. The scenery was fantastic, the weather was kind, the welcome was first class, and the rowing community were all very happy.

The Crail Crabbers launch their coastal skiff – The Crail Partan on Saturday 26th May at 4pm at Crail harbour. More information will be posted in due course.

By the end of this weekend our fleet will be increased by two new launchings at Pittenweem and Maidens (Ayrshire), and we will have had races and social events at Coigach regatta. See below for posts. Good luck to all, and feel free to send a couple of photos and a report to secretary@scottishcoastalrowing.org

The second St Ayles to be built in England will be launched on Thursday 31st May, and all followers of Scottish Coastal Rowing are warmly invited to take part.

The skiff is being built at St Michaels Church in Byker, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, by two teams of community boat builders.  One team is made up of  teenagers  (YMCA Newcastle) and the second group are adults recovering from  alcohol / substance abuse (Norcare and Tyne Housing). The whole build was commissioned by Newcastle’s Science City community science team.  The building of the skiff has therefore been a real community effort, and the plan is to use her as a community resource, racing on the Tyne and travelling to various coastal events, helping to reintroduce coastal rowing to the region.

The launch party will leave at 10am from St Michael’s Church Byker, Hedlam St (NE6 2DX), walking the boat down to St Peters Marina for the launch. At 11am the skiff will be lowered into the water with opportunities to  take a turn on an oar.

Your Homes Newcastle have kindly donated some authentic Byker paint  and the oars are being varnished. The skiff will spend 2 hours on the  water from 11am to 1pm on Thursday 31st, then back up to the Church  for some sandwiches and a mug of coffee / tea around 1.30-2pm, where  you can try your hand at some traditional woodworking. So come along and witness what a creative community can achieve by  sharing skills and utilising their natural surroundings.

If you intend to come back to the Church  afterwards please let Alex Finnegan of puppetship CNC know, so that he can arrange numbers for food and beverages:

Alex Finnegan PuppetShip CIC 07971 407 586 http://www.puppetship.com/

Cheer on the crews at the second Coigach Regatta this weekend.  More Information at:

http://buieboat.wordpress.com/2012/05/12/its-that-coigach-regatta-time-of-year/

Next weekend will see two more craft formally join the St Ayles fleet.  A few posts below you will see details of the launch on 20 May at Maidens, of the skiff built at Carrick Academy.  The day before that Pittenweem’s skiff, to be named “Fisher Lass” will be launched.  The naming ceremony will take place on Saturday 19th May at 2.00 pm at “The Gyles”, Pittenweem Harbour.  The boat will be given her name by Pittenweem’s Fisher Lad and Lass (crowned at last year’s Gala Day).  There will  also be an exhibition of drawings of the build by local artist Isabella Colville, as well as lots of photographs on show and a barbecue too. Anyone not away racing at Achiltibuie  regatta, will be made very welcome to come along and join in at Pittenweem, or at Maidens for the launch of the Carrick boat.

The next race action is going to be on the Coigach peninsula on 19 and 20 May.  In the meantime though, we have been asked to give a wee mention to the regatta at South Queensferry on 17 June hosted in conjunction with the RNLI open day so that there will be plenty to see and do for non-rowers as well.  Highlights of last year include watching the rescue dogs, daring rescues from the sea in a demonstration by the rescue helicopter and a display by the fire boats firing water jets.

Last Year's Regatta: Dancing Tugs

I know, I know, far too easy.  This boat is now in fact fully planked and painting has started…..  but where could it be?