First in was  North Queensferry’s second skiff  “Ferry Sonnet”  launched  on Saturday 11th May 2013. The name has an interesting story.   Alan Turing, who helped solve the Enigma Code in WW2 and invented the Turing Test in artificial intelligence, had suggested that a suitable question to ask a possibly sentient computer in the Turing Test would be “Can you compose a sonnet about the Forth Rail Bridge?”.  So this skiff is as well composed as any sonnet ever was.  She was welcomed to the water (in some lively conditions) by her sister ship St Margaret’s Hope, by Ferry Maid and Ferry Lass from the other end of the Forth Bridge, and by Fisher Lass from Pittenweem.

Next up was Firth of Clyde Coastal Rowing Club, who launched “Saltire” at Fairlie.  Fairlie was home to the Fife Family who launched many stunning yachts across the beach where Saltire took to the water.  The local community turned out in force despite the damp conditions, and Troon CRC brought a skiff along to welcome their new neigbours to the water.

Then “Selkie”, the Seil Skiff, was placed gently onto the water at the Clachan sound, which separates Seil from the mainland. There is some historic video that captures her maiden voyage.  Note from the Seil Skiff website:  ”Not just a boat made.  Friendships too.”

Good luck to all three communities.  Scottish Coastal Rowing wishes you many happy outings in your newcommunity skiffs.

Although there were spirited rows from the visitors, notably a couple of great results from the Helmsdale crews, Coigach dominated the competition, winning every one of the categories on offer.  Full results can be found here.

More details, and photos to be added later.  If anyone has a good pictures please send them on.  Race to Tanera Mor takes place on the Sunday.

 Hundreds of spectators and competitors are expected to gather in Ullapool to watch, support and take part in the new Championships. St Ayles Skiffs have initially been built by communities and groups acrossScotland but interest in them has grown internationally and they are now built around the world. 

 The local boat ‘Ulla’ is already known to the Royal Family having attended, at the invite of the Lord-Lieutenant of Ross & Cromarty Mrs Janet Bowen, the Jubilee Thames Regatta last year.  The Ullapool Coastal Rowing Club is delighted that this relationship is strengthened further with the Princess Royals’ visit.  Members look forward to welcoming Her Royal Highness and introducing her to the local and visiting skiff communities, as well as the many supporters of the event.

 Topher Dawson, Convenor of the Club said “This is a really exciting way to open the World Championships.  The spectacle of over 30 rowing skiffs on the waters of Lochbroom will be a sight to behold, and it is especially fitting this will be witnessed by the Princess Royal”. 

The governing body, the Scottish Coastal Rowing Association has fully supported Ullapools hosting of the first Championships.  Robbie Wightman, Convenor,  said “the skiff community has grown remarkably over the past three years, from the first boat launched in 2010.  It is a real endorsement that the Princess Royal is opening this first ever World Championships, and we are proud to introduce her to this community based sport.” 

 More information will can be found on the St Ayles Skiff World Championships Worlds website http://skiffieworlds.com/ and on Facebook.

However a further development has been attempted, which involves a longer, offset seat. This causes the following concerns:

1. Long seats are capable of being used for sliding upon to a far greater degree than the seat shown in the St Ayles plans. This is the first stage of moving towards sliding seat rowing (or at least sliding backside rowing) which the group believes is not allowed by current rules and should not be allowed as long as the St Ayles is a fixed seat class of skiff.

2. Seats should not depart far from the plans

3.  The boats should remain useful for social activities and coaching of beginners and youngsters, not just racing,and some long seat development, including offsetting the long part of the seat, may limit this.

4. Any perceived competitive advantage would cause unrest amongst the skiff community at regattas.

The group then looked at what could be done to address the issue and has made the following recommendations to the SCRA committee:

1. 10 inch (254mm) absolute maximum seat width since a slightly larger seat is often desirable for abnormal sized personnel; however the additional 2 inches from the current plans are seen as having no racing advantage apart from comfort.

2. Seats should be size shown in plans, except they can be up to 10 inches in width in the fore and aft plane.

The SCRA committee are minded to accept this advice, and introduce a specific addition to the St Ayles measurement rules to introduce a specific restriction of  a maximum 10″ seat width  IN ADVANCE OF THE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS. If such a change will cause your club difficulty or hardship please advise the SCRA committee in the next 7 days by e mailing:

secretary@scottishcoastalrowing.org

And this is the end product, skiff US07:

Congratulations to the pupils of Renbrook who have done a great job, working together to make a beautiful skiff.  The sharp eyed among you may notice a small job that still has to be comleted.  The skiff is named “William S. Shipp” after the husband of Renbrook’s former Head, Jane Shipp.

Toby Goodrich explains: “William S Shipp was an accomplished woodworker and boatbuilder. He loved the idea of bringing kids into boatbuilding. Three years ago, when he was fighting cancer, he and I often talked about the Boatbuilding and Rowing Challenge (BARC), which was WoodenBoat magazine’s challenge for US schools to build and race St. Ayles Skiffs. We recognized a beautiful boat when we saw one, and we thought Renbrook should take on the challenge. As Bill’s health worsened he never lost his fascination with how these boats have caught on in Scotland. When it became clear he didn’t have much time, Bill went through his beautiful woodworking shop with me, making sure I had a complete inventory of tools I could use at Renbrook. When he died he left a generous sum, which became the school’s wood boat fund. Signs hang in the doorways to the converted classroom space, now our boat building shop: “Shipp Yard.”

Lets all raise a glass to William S Shipp.   A video has been produced that follows the project, and shows a lot of happy faces. In the meantime someone has a window to replace and a wall to repair.

Entries close on the 8th of June.

Entries will be accepted from UK  groups/ clubs that are members of the Scottish Coastal Rowing Association, and from international groups/ clubs .  All entrant groups must either have a St Ayles skiff launched or in build.

The Troon Club would like to remind everyone that their Regatta is on Saturday 8th June at South Beach, Troon, from 9.45am.

If you intend participating, please let Club Secy David know a.s.a.p., preferably by sending in the entry form which was emailed to every Club, or by emailing troonrowsecy@smallworldmail.co.uk or by ‘phone on 01292 311980.

Thanks to those already participating in the event – we will be in touch in the next few days.

We’re launching our second skiff, Ferry Sonnet, on Saturday (11th May 2013) from 2.30-4.30  at North Queensferry Harbour.

All welcome to greet the new arrival! (though photos are promised too – yes please Lucie!)

The 100th kit worldwide is the 63rd in Scotland.  I do not think that four years ago anyone could have imagined that so many kits would have been bought so soon.  The numbers are on the “wild dreams” end of my expectations, and though I cannot say that I am now a rich man on the back of the St Ayles sales in terms of money, I do feel a very rich man in the pleasure that the St Ayles Skiff has given to so many people in such a short time.

The growth in the number of skiffs furth of Scotland is especially heartening.  As the numbers grow elsewhere, I will hope to see the bonds that we have seen develop between communities in Scotland extend to many more countries around the world.

It is my pleasure to announce that we have kept the 100th kit close to home; it has been bought on behalf of St Andrews Sailing Club.

They will have to change their name before too long!

Thank you to all in Skiffiedom, and especially those first communities who took the risk of building their boats in the winter of 2009/10.

Alec Jordan