UKCC Level 2 Fixed Seat Coaching Course Notice

Please post the notice on your club website and in your clubhouses.

The Association is eager to see a good geographical spread of coaches so every club should consider this opportunity.

Please note that as we have to confirm numbers to British Rowing later this month we need forms and deposits in by 20th February.

Regards

Adam Graham

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

With this in mind, Scottish Coastal Rowing Association is pleased to be able to announce that the SportScotland National Centre, Cumbrae is offering a special deal on the RYA online Essential Navigation and Seamanship Course.  Members of SCRA clubs can enrol on the course at the discounted rate of £55 per head.  The Course is delivered ONLINE, with the trainee working from home at their own pace.

Essential Navigation and Seamanship is an RYA certificated course.  The Centre will provide course materials by post for members to work on, as well as access to the online materials, tutorials and test and the service of a tutor at the centre who can be contacted to assist the candidate with any aspect of the course.  An explanation of the course can be found on the RYA site: http://www.ryainteractive.org/course/view.php?id=491  . A certificate is issued on successful completion of the course.

The course content includes charts and publications,  safety,  buoyage, tidal awareness, visual and electronic navigation, pilotage, rules of the road,   anchoring,  weather forecasts and passage planning.

A code is required for the discounted price, and will be circulated to secretaries of SCRA member clubs.  Once they have the code, candidates should contact  the National Centre Cumbrae at cumbraecentre@sportscotland.org.uk or 01475530757.

They will be given a ‘key’ to access the on line RYA programme and a centre contact who will act as their tutor when required.

SCRA would welcome feedback from members and hope that rowers benefit from this opportunity.

Full results here:  http://www.scottish-rowing.org.uk/applets/11SIRC_Results.pdf

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

This year we suspect that some groups will be using their skiffs or other rowing boats for exploring the Scottish coastline beyond their home waters.  To encourage groups to share their experiences of this and to allow us all to learn from each other SCRA is pleased to announce the SCRA Cruising Log competition.

We would like members of SCRA clubs who go on expeditions and adventures to record them in a cruising log and forward that on to us. Ideally we would like to log to be uploaded so that we can post a link to it from our website.  Logs should have some pictures or video as well as a written description of the voyage, giving details of launch and recovery sites, stop overs, and descriptions of the tidal streams and conditions.  We hope that others coming after can learn constructively so please do admit to your mistakes as well as saying what went well, and please also include an appendix with some thoughts on safety issues that you feel others would benefit from.  The competition is not just for expeditions in St Ayles skiffs.  We would love to hear about expeditions in any boats powered primarily by oars.

Closing date for entries will be 31 October 2012, but we would be delighted if you could send entries sooner than that to inspire others.  All expeditions must have taken place in the 12 months preceding the closing date.

We would be delighted to hear from anyone who would like to sponsor the competition or donate a trophy.  The competition will be judged on how entertaining and informative the log is, rather than just how long or arduous the cruise is, so don’t be shy about recording your thoughts on a weekend jaunt.

All entries and enquiries to secretary@scottishcoastalrowing.org please.

If you feel you could do with brushing up your navigation and seamanship, watch out for details of the course being run by the National Centre at Cumbrae in Essential Navigation and Seamanship.  A big discount is going to be available to SCRA members,  details of which will be posted shortly.  It goes without saying that the crews taking part in this competition must take responsibility for their own safety, and ensure that their craft is seaworthy, appropriately equipped for the contemplated voyage, and that the planned voyage is within the competency of the crew.

For inspiration read “Three Men in a Boat” by Jerome K Jerome, ”Ice Bears and Kotic” by Peter Webb or perhaps RowPorty’s log of their row down the Tay:

http://rowporty.org.uk/rowporty-tackles-the-tay-56703&urlHash=-3.3170272613363314E146

From Scotland, the Monarch’s Lord Lieutenants have been asked to identify craft to represent their counties and some of those Lord Lieutenants have looked to members of Scottish Coastal Rowing Association to do the honours.

Berwickshire will be represented by one of the County’s St Ayles skiffs, with a crew hopefully made up of members from both Eyemouth and St Abbs.  Ross is to be represented by a crew from Ullapool rowing club in Ulla.  Stornoway Rowing Club are going to be representing the Western Isles, with their crew to include local youngsters being recognised for their sporting success.  All three of these SCRA member clubs have a fair amount of training, fundraising and organising to do, and we wish them luck with that.

The Moray Gig leaving Portsoy Old Harbour

In addition Aberdeen Boat Club have had their application to take part in the Pageant accepted.  The Club intend to use a St Ayles skiff for the event.   The Moray Gig is also going to be taking part, representing the County of Moray.  http://www.moraygig.com/  At 38′ this sailing and rowing gig, rowed by 10 rowers with a total crew of 13,  will dwarf the St Ayles skiffs.  She was built in Findhorn where she was launched in 2001, and where she is still based.

The Glasgow Humane Society will also have a rowing boat, “George” taking part in the event and the Sheltand Isles will be sending down Dim Riv, a half size replica of a viking long boat.

More information on the pageant on their website:   http://www.thamesdiamondjubileepageant.org/

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

upturnkeep turning

 

lower gentlyclap

 

 

Project leader Niall McGinnis tells us  “It all went well with nobody being squashed! We used the opportunity to invite a whole host of local people and to promote the newly formed club, “Carrick Coastal Rowing Project”.

“Getting the boat ready for the day was touch and go, with extra hours needed to reach the deadline, but it was worthwhile with the ceremony receiving a great turnout with lots of positive remarks.”

Pictured are the 6^th years, Hollie Lucas, Connor Riggans, Robbie McCreath, Dale Hamilton, Daniel Roulston and Blair Jardine ,project leader Niall McGinnis, technician Brian Auld, and  two senior volunteers that help out for two hours a week John McGinnis and Alec Kelly.